A dual-use spy vessel has been employed by China in the Indian Ocean devouring what is known as Sri Lanka territory.
Source: Bing images
New Delhi: In an aim to flex yet another prowess and rub it in, the Chinese government has deployed its spy ship in the Indian Ocean, raising concerns for India.
Yuan Wang 5 is a dual-use vessel that was employed for space and satellite tracking with specific usage in intercontinental ballistic missiles. The spy vessel is under the control of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) under the Strategic Support Force unit, space, cyber and electronic warfare are major concerns of SSF.
A third-generation tracking ship, the Yuan Wang 5 belongs to a series of Yuan Wangs that have been designed by China’s 708 Research Institute, since 2007. It is state-of-the-art machinery used for missile range instrumentation with top-of-the-line antennas and electronic equipment.
These vehicles specialize in launching and tracking of missiles and rockets by the navies of China. These are also functioning under other nations such as France, Russia, and the United States, for similar purposes.
The vessel, Yuan Wang 5, will reach the Hambantota Port on August 11 and will stay there until August 17. The island nation has been requested to fuel the vehicle as well as to provide the vehicle with other supplies. Under a 1987 bilateral agreement between China and Sri Lanka, the latter cannot establish any port for military use or by any country in a manner prejudicial to India’s interests.
As per the reports, the intelligence vehicle will move to the Indian Ocean for “research purposes” like space tracking and satellite operation monitoring. The reports further suggest that these vessels are highly equipped to eavesdrop, opening a window for Communist China to realize its insidious intentions.
India’s concern is the threat posed on its naval bases on the east coast along with the ISRO station of Chandipur, which makes it vulnerable. However, this for China has been termed as a routine research initiative, while the Indian agencies are skeptical.
Communist China saw a window with a weak Sri Lanka, which grappled with the worst economic crisis as well as an unstable polity. Sri Lanka has been neo-colonized by China, and subjugation of the naval bases of the island nation is what the Dragon desires.
Do intelligence agencies suggest that if this is a routine activity then why is China anxious about the presence of American ships in their periphery for which there was a global hue and cry?
An instance of China’s muscle flexing is when Beijing punished South Korea by restricting tourism and holding trade hostage over the deployment of a US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile battery in 2016. The principle of Freedom of Navigation (FoN) is weakened by the diminishing situation of states’ security.
According to sources, the Indian high commission raised the issue with the Lankan government in Colombo. The government has sought an explanation about the nature and purpose of the visit by the Chinese vessel.
However, the Lankan media reported on Monday that the local government is in talks with both China and India to “reach an amicable solution” about the impending docking of China’s ‘Yuan Wan 5’ class tracking vessel.
According to Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times, clearance to anchor the vessel was granted by the country’s foreign and defense ministries several weeks ago before Ranil Wickremesinghe took office as President.
The ministry said, “Sri Lanka will have to manage the situation at a time when the government is poised to start debt restructuring talks. India and China are two of the biggest creditors and their cooperation is crucial.”
For Sri Lanka, it is important to tread with care because of its weak stance known globally. China usually makes prey to those that are weak for its benefit.
India, however, should assist the island nation before it succumbs to China, along with keeping a stern eye down south.
