On Last Saturday, Sri Lanka, which had deferred the visit of the Chinese military watercraft following concerns raised by India, made a U-turn and allowed the ship to harbor at the Hambantota port from August 16 to 22.
China’s ‘dual use spy’ vessel Yuan Wang five (5) docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port on Tuesday and despite protestations were raised by India. The tracking and satellite support watercraft will stay in Sri Lankan waters from 16 to 22 August.
On 12 July, Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry had first cleared the arrival of Yuan Wang five (5) at Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka. Whereas, the Chinese vessel’s visit to Hambantota Port, initially scheduled for August 11 and 17, was deferred after India raised demur with the Sri Lanka government.
Why did India and the US raise their voice to concern, ever since 2017 the Hambantota port’s 99-year lease for China ??
Because the Yuan Wang Class can monitor the non identical land it passes by while helm towards this port.
While addressing to the press, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin addressed: “The marine scientific research activities of the Yuan Wang five (5) are harmonious with international law and common practice.” He further admitted that the research ship will take time to top up the necessary supplies.
India’s Response
On Tuesday’s expansion, there is no official news from New Delhi about the development in the neighborhood. Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe had admitted that China will not be allowed to use the port for military purposes.
Last week at the weekly briefing Arindam Bagchi, spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs had said “India will make the best acumen about its security interests. It takes into account the prevailing situation in the region, especially in the areas of the border”.
“The government carefully scanned the evolution having a comportment on India’s security and economic interests and took all obligatory measures to shelter them.”
Hambantota Port at Sri Lanka
