The Chinese government has been urged to postpone its space-satellite tracker ship Yuan Wang 5’s arrival at the Hambantota port “until more negotiations” have taken place between the two nations. The spy ship was expected to refuel on August 11 at the Hambantota port that China has leased and depart on August 17.
The Yuan Wang 5 was built in 2007 and has a carrying capacity of 11,000 tonnes. It is designated as a research stroke survey vessel. The survey ship left Jiangyin, China on July 13 and is currently travelling close to Taiwan, where China is conducting live-fire exercises as a provocative response to Taipei for allowing US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to visit the autonomous island. The ship is currently in the East China Sea between South Japan and northeast Korea, according to the Marine Traffic website.
According to diplomats located in Colombo, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry informed the Chinese Embassy through a note verbale that the vessel Yuan Wang 5 was authorised to enter the port of Hambantota for “replenishment purposes” on July 12, 2022.
India has voiced security concerns over the ship’s docking in Hambantota since it appeared to be a research vessel, although the spy ship could map the ocean floor, which is essential for Chinese Navy anti-submarine operations. It is believed that the Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka used his influence to convince the Sri Lankan administration that denying the vessel permission would harm bilateral relations.
While the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration’s cabinet spokesperson indicated on August 2 that the ship could be permitted to refuel, the Indian Navy also communicated to Colombo its grave security concerns. India has helped Sri Lanka weather the current economic crisis it is experiencing by providing more than USD 3.5 billion in aid in the form of food, medicine, fuel, diesel, and natural gas.
The clearance for the spy ship to dock at Hambantota port was postponed on August 5 by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, who then informed their Chinese colleagues in writing through the appropriate diplomatic channels.
Despite the might of China, Sri Lanka’s decision to postpone the spy ship’s arrival demonstrates that it respects the security concerns of its neighbor, India. China is responsible for more than 10% of Sri Lanka’s external debt, and in 2017, Colombo handed Beijing a 99-year lease over the Hambantota Port.