Chinese GPS Tracker Near INS Kadamba

A migratory seagull fitted with a Chinese-manufactured GPS tracking device was discovered along the India — Karwar coastline in India — Karnataka, near the strategically sensitive INS Kadamba naval base. The device was linked to the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, a body under the China — Chinese Academy of Sciences. This discovery has triggered local concern and official scrutiny, leading to a joint inquiry by Indian forest officials, local police, and naval authorities. While initial assessments suggest the device is part of a scientific study to monitor bird migration, authorities are conducting a detailed technical evaluation to rule out any alternative use, including espionage, given the critical importance of INS Kadamba. India has contacted the Chinese research institution for clarification on the project's details. This incident follows similar past occurrences involving tracked birds near sensitive Indian locations, though those were also eventually attributed to wildlife research.