Sri Lanka caught between rivals as Chinese ship docks despite India’s concerns
- Yuan Wang 5 arrives at Hambantota port for three-day stay – down from five – after New Delhi raises security issues
- India fears China will use the port as a military base, while Beijing rejects worries about the survey vessel
Sri Lanka allows entry for Chinese ship despite India’s spy warning
It later asked China to delay the vessel’s arrival, citing the need for more consultations.
Yuan Wang 5 will now berth for only three days to stock up on fuel, food and other essentials, said an official at the port who declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media.
A Sri Lankan government minister said the island nation was working to ensure there was no friction between friendly countries.
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“India had raised concerns and Sri Lanka requested a delay in the ship’s docking until discussions could be had to resolve these issues,” Sri Lankan media minister Bandula Gunawardana told reporters.
“Even before this there have been ships from the US, India and other countries coming to Sri Lanka. We have allowed these ships to come. In the same way we have allowed the Chinese ship to dock.”
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Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the Chinese ship was not interfering with any other country.
“Yuan Wang 5 conducting maritime research activities … does not affect any country’s security or economic interests, and third parties should not interfere with it,” he said in Beijing.
Foreign security analysts describe the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China’s latest generation space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
