Chinese maritime surveillance military ship’s planned to visit to Sri Lanka at time of its unprecedented economic crisis and people’s uprising against the legitimate government has aroused a new row over naval dominance in the Indian ocean, several geo political experts said.
In the wake of India’s concerns on violating innocent passage requirements in territorial seas,China said that it hoped “relevant parties” would refrain from interfering with its legitimate maritime activities, after New Delhi voiced concern over this matter.
India is keeping a close watch across its southern neighbourhood following a report that a Chinese scientific research vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ will enter Hambantota port on August 11 for a week to allegedly conduct satellite control and research tracking in the Indian Ocean Region.
India worries that the Chinese-built and leased port of Hambantota will be used by China as a military base in India’s backyard. The $1.5 billion port is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe.
What has raised eyebrows here is the timing of the docking of the vessel at the port built by China, probably taking advantage of the political crisis in the island nation. New Delhi is examining the level of local political and military support that China has received for the proposed plan
The ship is expected to depart Hambantota on August 17 after replenishment. The ship could conduct satellite control and research tracking in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean region, according to Y Ranaraja, Director, Belt & Road Initiative, Sri Lanka (BRISL).
“China’s Yuanwang-5 space-tracking vessel conducting a space-ground information exchange and specially provide significant data support to Zhongxing-2E satellite’s orbit determination and entry. Now the vessel is sailing pass Taiwan towards Hambantota in Sri Lanka,” Ranaraja tweeted.
China has a major say in the Hambantota Port area and much of its activities in the area remain under wraps, according to critics both local and foreign. Sources explained that Yuan Wang 5 is also potentially violating innocent passage requirements in territorial seas as per UNCLOS. The vessel, according to experts, has a capability to snoop on a coastal state
Shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon showed Chinese research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 was en route to Hambantota and due to arrive on Aug. 11, at a time when Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades. India has provided Sri Lanka with nearly $4 billion in support this year alone.
During a weekly briefing late on Thursday, an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said the government was monitoring the planned visit of the Chinese ship, adding that New Delhi would protect its security and economic interests.
India has already lodged a verbal protest with the Sri Lankan government against the ship’s visit.
In response, China’s foreign ministry said Beijing had always exercised freedom of the high seas lawfully.
Foreign security analysts describe the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China’s latest generation space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
The Pentagon’s annual report on China’s military modernisation says the Yuan Wang ships are operated by the Strategic Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
