India is closely monitoring three Chinese research vessels operating in the Indian Ocean Region, coinciding with the cancellation of a NOTAM for a BrahMos missile test near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The presence of these vessels, particularly Shi Yan 6, raises concerns over China’s dual-use maritime activities, which could undermine India’s maritime dominance and strategic interests. By postponing the missile test, India aims to avoid providing Beijing with intelligence on missile trajectories while signaling a deliberate approach to defense. This situation underscores the ongoing strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, where China’s expanding influence and infrastructure investments pose significant challenges to regional security and India’s emergent defense capabilities.