To keep eye on China ships, India gives Dornier surveillance plane to Maldives

In a bid to step up surveillance of Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean Region, India provided Maldives with a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft. The plane was provided as per a government-to-government agreement for which talks had started in 2016. The plane will be operated by the Maldives National Defence Forces, while India will bear the running costs. The Indian Navy is training 7 Maldives personnel, including pilots, air observers, and engineers to operate the aircraft. Apart from keeping an eye on China amid persisting tension, the plane is also expected to help Male in anti-terror operations. In April 2020, ISIS had claimed responsibility for an arson attack at Mahibadhoo harbour. 4 speedboats, a sea ambulance and 2 dinghies had been set on fire. Maldives police said extremists or traffickers could have been responsible for the attack. The Dornier will help keep a watch on the isolated islands of the archipelago. Watch the full video for more.