Sri Lanka has asked China to defer the planned visit of the Chinese research and survey vessel Yuang Wang 5 to the island country, according to an official statement Monday.
The statement, issued by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry, said that "in light of the need for further consultations," it has communicated to the Chinese embassy in Colombo "to defer the visit of the vessel to the Hambantota port."
Earlier, the Sri Lankan government had given diplomatic clearance for the Chinese vessel to make a port call at Hambantota from Aug. 11-17 for "replenishment purposes" and this was conveyed to China on July 12, the ministry said.
Hambantota port, built by China, is located on a key international shipping route between Asia and Europe.
Stating that relations between Sri Lanka and China remain on a "solid foundation," the ministry in Monday's statement noted that it was "reiterated most recently by the two foreign ministers, Ali Sabry and Wang Yi, at a bilateral meeting in Cambodia on Aug. 4."
Indian media reported that India had raised concerns with Sri Lanka over the planned arrival of the vessel.
"Over the last week, (New) Delhi conveyed more than once that it had serious concerns about the planned arrival of the ship and was in constant talks with the Sri Lankan government on the issue," local English daily The Indian Express reported Sunday.
Last month, the spokesman for India's Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said they were aware of reports of a proposed visit.
"Let me just say that the government carefully monitors any development having a bearing on India's security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them. I think that should be a clear message," he said.
Indian security analyst Sameer Patil told Anadolu Agency that India has always "viewed with suspicion the movement of Chinese naval ships in the Indian Ocean."
"Given the fact, that this particular ship (Yuang Wang 5) is used for space and satellite tracking, India legitimately feels that it will be used for surveillance on sensitive installations on the Indian coastline," he said.
As the island nation of Sri Lanka is battling its worst economic crisis, India has provided financial aid and material assistance to the country worth nearly $4 billion since January this year.
Relations between India and China have been strained since 2020, when troops of the two countries clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto border between China and India in the disputed territory of Ladakh. -
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