Sri Lanka asks China to defer arrival of spy vessel at Hambantota

Sri Lanka on Friday requested China to defer the go to of the spy ship Yuan Wang 5 at Hambantota till additional consideration.

Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5. (Image: PTI)

HIGHLIGHTSSri Lanka requested China to defer the arrival of its spy vesselThe resolution comes after had expressed its safety considerations over the docking of the vesselIt is a third-generation spy vessel designed by China’s 708 Research Institute

Days after India raised objections to a Chinese dual-use spy vessel, Yuan Wang 5, arriving at Hambantota port on August 11 and staying there till August 17, Sri Lanka requested China to defer the go to of the spy ship.

In a letter to the Chinese embassy, the Sri Lankan international ministry wrote, “The ministry wishes to request that the arrival date of the vessel YUAN WANG 5 in Hambantota be deferred until further consultations are made on this matter.”

Notably, the event comes after India had expressed its safety considerations over the docking of the vessel at Hambantota because it was proven as a analysis vessel whereas the spy ship can map the ocean mattress which is vital to anti-submarine operations of the Chinese Navy.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry had earlier stated, “The government carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India’s security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard these.”

The clearances for the go to got on July 12, 2022, for the third-generation spy vessel designed by China’s 708 Research Institute as a part of the Yuan Wang sequence.

The go to by the Chinese ship for provides and refuelling comes at a time when the island nation has been struggling the worst financial disaster and the one nation that has stood by Colombo is India. China’s assist to Sri Lanka, then again, has not been common and constant.

Keeping the sensitivity of the scenario in thoughts, the Sri Lankan international ministry, nevertheless, added, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Colombo, the assurances of its highest consideration.”

— ENDS —