Colombo 13 August, Colombo : In the midst of controversy as well as a diplomatic battle between India and China, Sri Lanka on Saturday announced that it had granted the controversial Chinese vessel “Yuan Wang 5” to dock at Sri Lanka’s southernmost port the Chinese-owned Hambantota.The Foreign Ministry announced that it granted permission to the vessel to dock at the port from the 16th of August.
It was described as a survey and research vessel, but believed to be a spy vessel and a spy vessel, the Chinese vessel was initially planned to arrive in Hambantota on the 11th of August, but the arrival was delayed due to Sri Lanka’s request to delay the arrival for a period of time.
After Sri Lanka requested a postponement of the vessel’s arrival at the port, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin protested and claimed that the blocking of the vessel’s entry into the Port of Hambantota was “completely inexplicably” and also accused India of being the primary culprit, declaring that “certain countries” placed the pressure upon Sri Lanka, claiming “security concerns”.
On the 12th of July, diplomatic approval to allow the Chinese vessel to visit the Hambantota Port between August 11-17, to replenish the port was given by the Foreign Ministry to the Chinese Embassy in Colombo.
However, in response to concerns expressed from India and other experts and political parties The Ministry informed the Chinese mission to postpone the visit of the ship.
This Friday, India rejected claims that it has imposed pressure on Sri Lanka to not allow “Yuan Wang 5” to travel to Hambantota port.
“We absolutely reject the “insinuation” as well as any assertions about India.
Sri Lanka is a sovereign country that makes its own decisions on its own,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said.
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