Colombo 16 August : The controversial Chinese vessel with ballistic missiles and satellite tracking capabilities was docked in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port in spite of security concerns raised by India regarding the presence of the vessel in the waters around.Port workers gave a rousing welcoming to the Yuan Wang 5, waving Sri Lankan and Chinese flags and the ship is in dock until August 22 the 22nd, displayed a large banner that read “Hello Sri Lanka”, according to CNN.
However the ship’s arrival appears to have intensified tensions between New Delhi and Beijing, who have both poured billions of dollars in development and have signed deals with Sri Lanka, an island of 22 million people located on a major trade route.
The Yuan Wang 5 had originally asked permission to dock at Colombo in the last week however, the visit was postponed because of concerns about the presence of the vessel, even though India has denied putting demands on Colombo.
China claims the ship’s purpose is research purposes however, the US Defense Department says the ship is under the control of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and is capable of monitoring missile launches and satellites, CNN reported.
On the 13th of August the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said the government was been engaged in “extensive” discussions with “all parties involved” with a “view to finding a solution in an atmosphere of friendship and trust and positive dialogue”.
The ship was said to have been granted permission to dock under the condition that research would be conducted in Sri Lankan waters.
The arrival of the ship was always likely to be controversial.
it was China has leased the Hambantota port from Sri Lanka in 2017 for 99 years following Colombo did not pay off the debts incurred by the development of the port.
In the beginning, the agreement caused concern that it could allow China access to a crucial shipping route, placing it in India’s area of influence.
The presence of an entire ship with modern technologies has left Sri Lanka’s neighbors anxious, CNN reported.
According to an US Defense Department report published in 2013 the vessel is in direction of the PLA’s Strategic Support Force (SSF), “a theater command-level organization that was established to centralize the PLA’s cyber, space, strategic electronic information, communications and capabilities for psychological warfare”.
“The SSF also operates Yuan Wang space support vessels that monitor satellite and intercontinental ballistic rocket (ICBM) launch,” the report said.
Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain and former director of operations at the Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, said New Delhi’s concern over the presence of the ship in Sri Lanka was likely due to its capabilities to monitor, CNN reported.
“Spying isn’t her main objective Her primary task is monitoring satellites and tracking PRC rocket launches Telemetry, satellite launches, and satellite status, but the same capability often is used to monitor satellites from other countries’ operations, downlinks, and missile Telemetry,” he said.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that the vessel is conducting research “in conformity with the international laws”.
It “does not impact the economic and security interest of any country and shouldn’t be interfering with by any third party” the spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
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