First Published Aug 16, 2022, 2:02 PM IST
EIgnoring India’s concerns, the Chinese spy ship anchored at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. Hambantota port officials said the Yuan Wang 5 was allowed to approach the coast on the condition that it would not conduct research while in Sri Lankan waters. India has accused China of using Yuan Wang 5 for espionage. However, China claims that it is a research vessel. India has also asked Sri Lanka not to allow this ship to anchor at the port. However, Sri Lanka has rejected India’s demand and has now given permission to anchor Yuan Wang 5.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka has informed that the ship has been allowed to stay at Hambantota port till the 22nd of this month. Foreign security analysts have described the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China’s latest generation of space tracking ships, Reuters reported. Yuan Wang 5 can capture signals at a range of 750 km.
Therefore, India alleged that Yuan Wang 5 was targeting information from strategic centers in South India. The ship can monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. Shipping analytics websites call this vessel a research and survey vessel. But the ship is also dubbed China’s “dual-use spy ship”.
Last July, the Indian foreign ministry spokesman had said that the government was monitoring the planned visit of Yuan Wang 5. The foreign minister added that the country’s security and economic interests will be protected. India had earlier reacted against allowing the ship to anchor in Sri Lanka.
Earlier this month, Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry asked China to postpone the ship’s arrival after India raised concerns. Sri Lanka has informed China that further consultations are needed. However, China’s response was that it was not fair for some countries to call it ‘security concerns’ without mentioning India’s name.
India handed over a Dornier aircraft to the Sri Lankan Navy after it was decided that the Chinese spy ship would dock at the Sri Lankan port of Hambantota. India stated that the Dornier aircraft was handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy to strengthen the defense sector and strengthen mutual understanding.
Indian Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, who arrived in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit, along with Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Gopal Baglay, handed over the Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lankan Air Force base in Katunayaka. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the handover ceremony.
During the handover ceremony, High Commissioner Baglay said that Dornier 228 is being gifted to enhance security, mutual understanding, mutual trust and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. The ceremony was held during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence. The Indian Navy trained a team of Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force to operate maritime surveillance aircraft.
In January 2018, Sri Lanka had requested India for two Dornier aircraft to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities. It was then that the government considered providing flights. It was also announced that India will supply two Dornier aircraft manufactured by state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to Sri Lanka.
Once the HAL-built aircraft are handed over, the Dornier aircraft, which will be delivered on Monday, will be returned to the Indian Navy. The aircraft will be operated by 15 Sri Lankan Air Force personnel who received special training in India for four months. They will be supervised by the Indian Government Technical Team in the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF).
While the Chinese ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ arrived at Dakshina Hampantota port today for a one-week anchorage, India handed over the Dornier aircraft to Sri Lanka yesterday. The ship was initially scheduled to arrive at the port on August 11, but was delayed due to a lack of permission from the Sri Lankan authorities. Sri Lanka had asked China to postpone the visit amid India’s concerns. However, Colombo later allowed port access to the ship from August 16 to 22.