00:00According to multiple reports, China has positioned a so-called scientific research ship in the
00:26Arabian Sea near the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. While officially labeled civilian,
00:34analysts say this vessel has dual-use capabilities, meaning it can collect military
00:40intelligence under the cover of research. This isn't just symbolism. Timing is everything.
00:47In mid-January 2026, the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, moved from the
00:56South China Sea to the Middle East, arriving in the Gulf of Oman around January 25th and 26th.
01:03This came amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. On board the carrier,
01:10F-35C stealth fighters, F-A-18 Super Hornets, electronic warfare aircraft and surveillance
01:19assets, a clear signal that Washington is reinforcing its military posture in the region.
01:26Now, tracking data shows the Chinese vessel, believed to be Dayang Ai Hao, has been active
01:32across the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea since December 2025. Its equipment includes
01:39seabed mapping systems and underwater communication interception tools, technologies that can quietly
01:46support naval operations. In other words, it may be watching everything. But China's monitoring
01:53doesn't stop at sea. Satellite surveillance plays a major role here. High-resolution images from Chinese
02:01commercial satellite firms have publicly revealed sensitive U.S. deployments, from Patriot missile systems
02:07in Qatar and Kuwait, to tanker aircraft surges and fighter jet movements across the Gulf. Images dated
02:15January 25th and 26th show F-15E strike eagles in Jordan and expanded missile defenses across the region.
02:24While this data is technically public, analysts warn its release could indirectly help Iran assess U.S.
02:31military readiness, even if no direct intelligence sharing is confirmed. China's advanced satellites,
02:38including Yao Gan 41, provide near-constant tracking of naval and air assets, fitting neatly into Beijing's
02:46military-civil fusion strategy. And the situation is getting crowded. U.S. officials confirm at least 10
02:54warships are now in the region alongside MQ-4C Triton drones and P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft. Iran has
03:03responded with drone swarms over the Persian Gulf, creating a tense game of aerial and naval mouse and
03:09cat. At the same time, China's support to Iran remains calculated and economic. Since the Iran-Israel
03:17conflict in June 2025, intelligence agencies track Chinese shipments of missile precursors, drone
03:24components and propulsion materials, enough to rebuild hundreds of ballistic missiles. Unverified reports
03:32even suggest a surge of Chinese military cargo flights into Iran in early 2026 — potentially the
03:39largest such airlift ever. Still, Beijing is careful. It opposes U.S. military action,
03:46but avoids direct confrontation, prioritizing oil trade and regional stability over defending Iran outright.
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