The vessel, Yuan Wang 5, was said to be a dual-use spy ship although the international shipping and analytics sites describe it as a research and survey vessel.
New Delhi: Controversial Chinese research ship which was docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port for six days has reportedly been departed from the port. The ship had reached strategically important Hambantota port on the island nation even after strong oppose of India. Both India and USA had accused that the Chinese research vessel is spying military installations and the reason China has sent it at Sri Lanka’s port.
On August 13, China had allowed Chinese vessel to visit the country. The vessel, Yuan Wang, was said to be a dual-use spy ship although the international shipping and analytics sites describe it as a research and survey vessel. Earlier in the beginning of the month, amid intense pressure by India, Sri Lanka has reportedly asked China to make indefinite delay in sending ship in the coastal area of the island nation.
India is concerned of Beijing’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence on Sri Lanka. The Yuan Wang 5 was supposed to anchor at the Chinese-run Hambantota port on August 11 but Sri Lanka had asked Chinese to indefinitely defer the visit.
Sri Lankan authority, in a written request, had asked the Chinese authority in Colombo not to send its vessel. The authority has requested to delay the move for indefinite period. “The ministry wishes to request that the arrival date of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota to be deferred until further consultations are made on this matter,” the request had said.
Sources in the Sri Lankan government said President Ranil Wickremesinghe failed to give a “satisfactory response” even as India raised concerns.
Officials at the port said the Chinese vessel was around 1,000 kilometre southeast of Sri Lanka on Friday and approaching Hambantota deep sea port. Sri Lanka had leased out the port to China for 99 years at $1.12 billion, however, it was less than the $1.4 billion paid to a Chinese company to build the port.
