According to media reports, India was worried the vessel would be used to spy on its activities and that it had lodged a complaint with Sri Lanka.
Colombo: After Colombo sought a deferment of the planned docking of a high-tech Chinese research vessel at the strategic Hambantota port, over which India raised concerns, China’s embassy here has sought an urgent meeting with senior Sri Lankan authorities, according to sources.
The Chinese space and satellite tracking research vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ was set to dock at the Hambantota Port from August 11 to 17, weeks after Sri Lanka witnessed a major political crisis following massive mass protests over the island country’s worst-ever economic crisis.
“The ministry wishes to request that the arrival of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota to be deferred until further consultations are made on the matter,” a ‘third-person’ note dated August 5 from Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry to the Chinese embassy in Colombo read.
According to media reports, India was worried the vessel would be used to spy on its activities and that it had lodged a complaint with Sri Lanka.
The Chinese embassy in Colombo, sought an urgent meeting with the higher Sri Lankan authorities to discuss the issue after receiving the note from the Foreign Ministry seeking a delay in the visit, sources added.
Some Sri Lankan news portals also cited that Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe held a closed-door meeting with China’s Ambassador Qi Zhenhong after Colombo sought a deferment of the planned docking.
However, the President’s Office denied the media reports about the meeting.
On July 12, amidst the political turmoil in Sri Lanka, the then government approved the Chinese vessel’s docking at the Hambantota port.
The Chinese vessel was expected to dock at the Sri Lankan port for “refueling and ‘replenishment’ and will conduct satellite control and research tracking in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September.
The southern deep-sea port of Hambantota is considered strategically important for its location. The port, located in the hometown of the Rajapaksa family, has been developed largely with Chinese loans.
India has informed Sri Lanka that the docking of the high-tech Chinese research vessel could pose a threat to its national security, according to media reports.
India has maintained its stance, that it carefully monitors any development having a bearing on its security and economic interests.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We are aware of reports of a proposed visit by this vessel to Hambantota in August.”
“The government carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India’s security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them,” Mr. Bagchi had said last month.
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