India wants Sri Lanka to learn about the real purposes of the Ship’s visit to Hambantota Port.
China’s naval ship, Yuan Wang 5 will be docked at the Hambantota Port of Sri Lanka. There are concerns, economic and strategic. India is wanting Sri Lanka to find out the reasons for the ship’s visit.
All the member nations of Cooperative Maritime Security are concerned over the ship’s visit. The cyber security cooperation and its commitment must be applied to the Chinese naval ship.
Against the present background scenario, Sri Lanka’s decision for allowing the Chinese Yuan Wang 5 to the Hambantota dock raises questions. India is open to evidence-based arguments. China has reacted harshly, without naming India.
China’s Reactions:
“The cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is independently chosen by the two countries and meets common interests. It does not target any third party.” – Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
He further added that it would be senseless to pressurize Sri Lanka in the name of security concerns, pointing to India, without naming it. Sri Lanka, being a sovereign state, can develop relations with other countries for its interests. The cooperation between Sri Lanka and China is based on common interests and is chosen independently by both countries.
Strategic Cooperation:
Some Sri Lankans hold the view that India is over-reacting in such a situation. India can take China militarily in the Indian Ocean waters. Also, they do not wish to see any third nation, fighting around their waters. They support instruments like the Columbo Security Conclave (CSC) that aims at providing neighbourhood Indian Ocean nations with a sense of security from extra-territorial powers.
India had expressed concerns earlier when two Chinese submarines, consequently were docked at the Colombo Port in 2014. However, Wickremesinghe, the then Prime Minister, is credited for prohibiting a third Chinese submarine in 2017. Back then, the denial did not have much impact on China-Sri Lanka relations.
Yuan Wang 5 has a long reach for satellite tracking and it may study India’s strategic assets from anywhere and not specifically from the Hambantota dock. Maybe China wants to remind the world that it has a lease-hold over the port and thus, free access to Chinese naval vessels.
