Sri Lanka allows entry for Chinese research ship despite India’s spy warning
- New Delhi had previously asked Sri Lanka not to allow the Yuan Wang 5 to dock saying it could be used to spy on its military installations
- The vessel will now be allowed to visit the controversial Chinese-run port of Hambantota
The Yuan Wang 5 is described as a research and survey vessel by international shipping and analytics sites, but according to Indian media it is a dual-use spy ship.
India raises spy fears as Chinese ship due to stop at Sri Lanka port
New Delhi is suspicious of Beijing’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean and influence in Sri Lanka, seeing both as being firmly within its sphere of influence.
But Sri Lanka’s harbour master, Nirmal P Silva, said he had received foreign ministry clearance for the ship to call at Hambantota from August 16 to 22.
“The diplomatic clearance was received by me today. We will work with the local agent appointed by the vessel to ensure logistics at the port,” Silva told AFP.
Rajapaksa – whose brother Mahinda borrowed heavily from China while president from 2005 to 2015 – resigned after escaping to Singapore.
Tens of thousands of protesters overran his palace and home in Colombo after accusing him of mismanagement in an economic crisis that has led to acute shortages of food, fuel and medicines.
Port officials said the Chinese vessel was about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) southeast of Sri Lanka on Friday night and was heading slowly towards the Hambantota deep seaport.
According to Indian reports, the Yuan Wang 5 could be employed for space and satellite tracking, and has specific uses in intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
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The Indian government has expressed concern that the ship could spy on its activities, and had lodged a complaint with Colombo.
New Delhi’s foreign ministry has said it will closely monitor “any bearing on India’s security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them”.