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A Chinese military survey ship has docked at Sri Lanka's Chinese-built port of Hambantota after a delay of several days because of opposition to the visit from India.
Key points:
- Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry says China agreed the ship would not carry out any research activities while in Sri Lankan waters
- Yuan Wang 5 is docking for three days to stock up on fuel, food and other essentials
- Before the arrival of the ship, India gave Sri Lanka's air force a Dornier 228 aircraft for maritime surveillance
India had opposed the docking of the Yuan Wang 5, which analysts describe as a high-tech ship for tracking objects in space, as it fears China could use the port, near the main Asia-Europe shipping route, as a military base.
Sri Lanka — which needs the support of both India and China as it struggles with its worst economic crisis in decades — initially granted the ship permission for a five-day replenishment stay in Hambantota, from August 11.
It later asked China to delay the vessel's arrival, citing the need for more consultation.
Yuan Wang 5 will now berth for only three days to stock up on fuel, food and other essentials, said an official at the port, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media.
A Sri Lankan government minister said the island nation was working to ensure there was no friction between friendly countries.
"India had raised concerns and Sri Lanka requested a delay in the ship's docking until discussions could be had to resolve these issues," Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana told reporters.
"Even before this, there have been ships from the US., India and other countries coming to Sri Lanka.
"We have allowed these ships to come. In the same way we have allowed the Chinese ship to dock."
Beijing says ship not interfering with any other country
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the Chinese ship was not interfering with any other country.
"Yuan Wang 5 conducting maritime research activities … does not affect any country's security or economic interests and third-parties should not interfere with it," he said in Beijing.
Foreign security analysts say the Yuan Wang 5 is one of China's latest-generation, space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
The Pentagon says the Yuan Wang ships are operated by the Strategic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
That family of naval vessels serve both the Chinese missile force and its space program, which is run by the PLA, the military wing of the ruling Communist Party.
Previous official Chinese media reports have described PLA officers serving in command positions aboard the vessels in the Yuan Wang class, which may also have civilians in their crews.
Last weekend, Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry said that China had agreed the ship would keep its identification systems on and would not carry out any research activities while in Sri Lankan waters.
New Delhi views rising China's influence with suspicion
Sri Lanka has referred to the Yuan Wang 5 as a "scientific research ship", but there are fears in India that the vessel could be used to surveil 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 kilometres — means that several ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh could be on China's radar," the Indian Express newspaper wrote.
Before the arrival of the ship, India gave Sri Lanka's air force a Dornier 228 aircraft for maritime surveillance.
At a handover ceremony, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe called it the start of cooperation in maritime surveillance between his country's navy and air force and India's navy.
The closely watched developments surrounding the vessel underscore the competing interests of regional giants India and China in the small island nation.
For more than a decade, Sri Lanka's strategic location in the Indian Ocean and along one of the busiest shipping routes has seen both countries vie for influence.
Over the years, Beijing was widely seen as having an upper hand with its free-flowing loans and infrastructure investments.
But Sri Lanka's economic collapse proved an opportunity for India to gain greater sway, as New Delhi stepped in with massive financial and material assistance to its neighbour.
Sri Lanka seeks support of both India and China
India in recent months has provided crucial assistance including food, fuel, medicines and cooking gas.
At the same time, China's agreement to restructure its infrastructure loans to Sri Lanka is vital for the country to reach a bailout program with the International Monetary Fund.
“Given the geopolitical dynamics in the region and Sri Lanka’s heavy vulnerability on the economic front, Sri Lanka is playing with two fires at a diplomatic level,” international affairs analyst Ranga Kalansooriya said.
China has lent Sri Lanka billions of dollars for development projects, some of which have been criticised as having little practical use.
They include the Hambantota port, built with Chinese money under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his home region, despite the plan having been rejected by an expert panel.
When the port failed to generate enough revenue to pay back the loan, Sri Lanka in 2017 was forced to hand the facility and thousands of acres of surrounding land to Beijing for 99 years — giving China a key foothold in the country directly opposite India's coastline.
Mr Kalansooriya said that, while Sri Lanka was unable to discount both regional powers, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is tasked not only with salvaging the country's economy but also maintaining a diplomatic balance.
AP/Reuters