Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka bans Chinese spy ships from entering the country, was India's displeasure the reason?

The Sri Lankan government has asked the Chinese government to postpone the visit of its space-satellite tracker ship Yuan Wang 5 at the Hambantota port until further consultations between the two governments. The Chinese spy ship was scheduled to refuel at Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on August 11 and leave on August 17.

yuan wang 5 a spy ship

Designated as a spy ship, Yuan Wang 5 was built in 2007 and has a capacity of 11,000 tonnes. The survey vessel departed Jiangyin in China on 13 July and is currently located close to Taiwan. According to the Marine Traffic website, the ship is currently in the East China Sea between southern Japan and northeast Taiwan.

India had expressed displeasure

Recently, India had expressed its strong objection to the information about the arrival of a huge Chinese ship at the Hambantota port of Sri Lanka. India's Ministry of External Affairs had clearly stated that it keeps a close watch on any developments affecting its security and economic interests. After this, Sri Lanka, which was facing an economic crisis, started worrying about the financial condition of its country. Sri Lanka also knows that India supported it in difficult times. Nothing was received in the name of help from China. In such a situation, it can be said that Sri Lanka was forced to bow down to India's displeasure.

Hambantota port is strategically important

Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 was expected to arrive at Hambantota port in Sri Lanka from August 11-17 for refueling and was planned to conduct satellite control and research track in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean during August and September. The port is considered strategically important and is located in the hometown of the Rajapaksa family and has been developed mainly by Chinese debt. Newly appointed Prime Minister Gunawardene told reporters that both the countries are our close friends. We will try to resolve the issue from the point of view of friendship.

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