India expresses concerns about Chinese ship in Sri Lanka, Yet to dock at port

Colombo: Days after India expressed security concerns over a high-tech Chinese research ship that was supposed to dock at Sri Lanka's port, it is yet to dock. India has protested such visits in the past as well.

According to plan, Yuan Wang 5 was supposed to arrive on Thursday and remain at the southern port of Hambantota till August 17 for replenishment.

The Harbour Master of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said that the ship did not arrive at the port as planned because it is waiting for clearance to enter from its location which is 600 nautical miles away from the port. A Chinese company is in charge of the Hambantota port but the navigation and operational issues are still handled by the SLPA.

It is a ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship. India is concerned about its presence in the neighbouring island nation. Developed largely with Chinese loans, the port is considered to be strategically important due to its location in the southern deep sea.

The Indian government is concerned about the ship's tracking systems spying on Indian installations. New Delhi has always taken a strict view over Chinese military vessels in the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lankan foreign ministry had approved the vessel's docking at the Hambantota Port on July 12. The Chinese Embassy in Colombo received a letter on August 8 requesting for deferring the planned docking. The ship had already entered the Indian ocean.

Colombo postponed the docking after the Indian government raised strong objections citing security concerns. The Sri Lankan ministry did not explicitly say the reason behind their decision.

The new government of Sri Lanka is being criticised by the Opposition for "mishandling" the docking of the Chinese ship. The five-party breakaway group of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party urged in a joint statement that the ship should be allowed to dock at the port.

Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the government is aware of reports of a proposed visit by this vessel. "The government carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India's security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday said it was "completely unjustified for certain countries to cite the so-called "security concerns" to pressure Sri Lanka."

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said: "As Sri Lanka grapples with economic and political difficulties, to grossly interfere in Sri Lanka's normal exchange and cooperation with other countries is to exploit its vulnerability, which is morally irresponsible and against the basic norms governing international relations."

"We urge the relevant parties to see China's marine scientific research activities in a rational light and stop disrupting normal exchange and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka," he added.