Chinese 'Spy' Ship’s Impending Sri Lanka Visit And Why India Is Concerned

Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 is scheduled to dock at Sri Lanka's Hambantota port on Aug 11 and will remain there till Aug 17. The vessel is said to be equipped to track space, satellites and missiles.

Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5

Source : brisl.org

With China’s military drills in Taiwan Strait setting the stage to tank its relations with Taiwan and the United States to a historic low, the communist nation’s move in the Indian Ocean has also irked India. A Chinese vessel is scheduled to dock at the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota on August 11 and will remain there till August 17. The move has raised India’s concerns as the vessel, Yuan Wang 5, is equipped to track space, satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to reports. 

Sri Lanka's Denial 

The Belt & Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), which is an education and consulting platform for China’s BRI projects in the island nation, announced on its website on July 27 about the scheduled visit of the Chinese vessel for replenishment.  

“The Yuan Wang 5 will conduct satellite control and research tracking in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September,” the blog post read, adding: “the visit…will be an excellent opportunity for Sri Lanka and the regional developing nations to learn and develop their own space programs.” 

To this, India reacted by saying it “carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India's security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them”.

Soon after, the Chinese side issued a statement. "China hopes that the relevant parties will view and report on China's marine scientific research activities correctly and refrain from interfering with normal and legitimate maritime activities," China’s foreign ministry said. 

Interestingly, Sri Lanka had denied the vessel’s visit to the port. “We have no confirmation of such a vessel calling at the Hambantota port,” a spokesperson of the county’s defence ministry told The Hindu on July 28. However, just two days later, the ministry confirmed the vessel’s arrival. “The vessel will be in Hambantota from August 11 to 17, mainly for replenishment, including fuel,” the ministry said on July 30.  

READ | India Following Planned Visit Of Chinese Satellite Tracking Vessel To Sri Lankan Port

India's Concern 

The Chinese vessel is capable of tracking space and satellite activities along with intercontinental ballistic missiles that poses a security threat to India. NDTV has reported that the vessel, with a crew of around 400, is loaded with a large parabolic tracking antenna and various sensors. The ship could be used to keep a surveillance over Indian missile tests and gauge their specifications and firing range. Also, the vessel has an aerial reach of around 750 km, taking several ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh into its range.  

Not The First Time 

This is not the first time that China’s presence in Sri Lanka has raised India’s concerns. In 2014, the docking of Changzheng 2, a nuclear-powered Chinese submarine, in Colombo had angered India so much that Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the then Secretary to the Lankan defence ministry, had to visit New Delhi and address India’s concerns. 

Hambantota Port has been a security threat to India’s strategic interests after China entered into the picture in 2014. The port was developed by China as part of the BRI. As Sri Lanka failed to fulfil its debt repayment commitments, the port was handed over to China in 2017 on a lease for 99 years.

India has always raised concerns about the potential use of the port by China for military purposes. However, Sri Lanka has tried to assure India, saying the port would not be used in any way that might harm Indian interests.