POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Aug 14, 2022: Chinese vessel Yuan Wang-5 has been granted permission to enter Sri Lanka, ending the uncertainty and tension. The Colombo government gave this permission yesterday Saturday. India fears the ship could monitor its military sector. The country therefore urged Sri Lanka not to allow the Yuan Wang-5 ship to sail.
According to information from the International Shipbuilding Site, the Yuan Wang-5 is a research and survey vessel. However, according to Indian media reports, New Delhi suspects that Beijing wants to increase its influence in Sri Lanka in addition to conducting exercises in the Indian Ocean.
The ship was initially scheduled to dock at the Chinese government-run Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on August 11. It was postponed in the face of India’s objection.
Sri Lankan Harbor Master Nirmal P. Silva said that he had received permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the ship to visit the Hambantota port from August 16-22. “I received the diplomatic clearance today,” P Silva told AFP. We will talk to the Beijing representatives here to confirm the port logistics. ‘
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Colombo has renewed the Chinese ship’s permission to anchor. Earlier, the permission was granted on July 12, the day before President Gotabaya Rajapakse left the country.
The Chinese ship was 1000 kilometers southeast of Sri Lanka last Friday, the port authorities said. Later slowly Hambantota moved towards deep sea port.
According to Indian sources, the Yuan Wang could be used for space and satellite tracking, especially for launching long-range ballistic missiles. Apart from this, India’s military activities can be monitored.
India’s foreign minister said any matter related to the country’s security and economic interests will be closely monitored. ‘Necessary measures’ will be taken to protect these.
Source: AFP
