Chinese navy vessel, Yuan Wang 5, on Tuesday docked at the Beijing-built port of Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka despite security concerns raised by India and the United States.
According to the port officials, the Yuan Wang 5 entered the deep-sea port after securing permission to enter Sri Lankan waters on the condition that it would not engage in research there.
Sri Lanka has referred to the vessel as a “scientific research ship,” but there are fears in India that the ship could be used for surveillance of the region, with multiple media reports calling it a “dual-use spy ship.”
“The Yuan Wang 5 is a powerful tracking vessel whose significant aerial reach — reportedly around 750 km — means that several ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh could be on China’s radar,” said an Indian Newspaper.
The research vessel was initially due to arrive last week but Srilanka asked Beijing to postpone the visit due to objections raised by India which shares Western concerns about Chinese activities in the region.
But last Saturday, after intense negotiations, Sri Lanka announced a U-turn, saying that permission was restored to dock at the southern port and remain for six days for refueling and taking in other supplies.
“We are granting the same facilities that we extend to all other countries,” government spokesman BandulaGunawardana told reporters. “All these countries are important to us.”
The visit of the Yuan Wang 5 is part of “normal exchanges between the two countries”, according to the Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong.
“China and Sri Lanka enjoy outstanding friendship,” Qi told reporters at a ceremony to welcome the ship.
China says the ship is used for scientific research, but the US Defense Department says the ship is under the command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and is capable of tracking satellites and missile launches.