Sri Lanka’s decision to allow China’s ‘spy ship’ Yuan Wang 5 to dock at Hambantota may impact New Delhi’s support to crisis-ridden Colombo in the coming months, even though India continues to underline the centrality that Sri Lanka occupies in its “Neighbourhood First” policy. However, India’s response to Sri Lanka over its decision to green-signal the Chinese vessel will not be very hard and severe. “There are several ways to give a message to the Sri Lankan government that India is really peeved at the decision permitting China to dock its spy ship at Chinese-run Hambantota port from 16 to 22,” sources told The Daily Guardian.
Sources said while New Delhi continues to be fully supportive of Sri Lanka’s democracy, stability and economic recovery, it will apprise Colombo of its displeasure through diplomatic
channels over the fact that it has scorned India’s strategic and security concerns. “The development may impact India’s support to Sri Lanka, like in the form of delaying certain aides that are already in the pipeline. Some projects may be delayed to give the island nation a message,” say officials. “What stands out is that the rulers of Sri Lanka are still in the grip of China, and for this they will be given a strong message by India,” officials add.
However, humanitarian problems in the island nation will be taken care of. There is no denying that India has gained a lot of people’s goodwill due to assistance and help to Colombo amid massive economic crisis. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi’s statement was in fact a reminder for Colombo when he said that India has extended this year itself an unprecedented support over $3.8 billion for ameliorating the serious economic situation in Sri Lanka.
At the same time, Bagchi also emphasised India’s right to address its security concerns. “With regard to our security concerns, this is the sovereign right of every country. We will make the best judgment in our own interest. This naturally takes into account the prevailing situation in our region, especially in the border areas,” Bagchi said. He dropped ample hints for both China and Sri Lanka that its own security concerns are of paramount importance to India for which it could take tough steps as well. That Sri Lanka hosted Pakistan’s new Chinese-built frigate Taimur up to 15 August had also upset India. Now after hosting Pakistan’s frigate, Colombo is hosting Beijing’s military ship, regardless of New Delhi’s objections. What is hurting more is the text of the press release that Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka issued. The press release talked of “taking into account interests of all parties concerned and sovereign equality of states. “This equates India’s security concerns with China’s maritime threat, which is laughable,” officials say. Sri Lanka may have assured India that Hambantota would not be used by China for military purposes, but what worries India is that Colombo has never shown sensitivity to Indian security concerns relating to China, sources said.