Local authorities in Sri Lanka are yet to give permission to Chinese ‘research ship’ Yuan Wang 5, which was scheduled to dock at Hambantota port on Thursday. Harbour master for the Hambantota port reportedly denied permission for docking of the vessel, ET has learnt.

However, local Lankan media reports claimed the ship may dock at Hambantota port next Tuesday (August 16) after “due consultations”. Colombo had earlier requested Beijing to defer the visit following apprehensions in New Delhi that the vessel was a spy ship which had the capabilities to create security challenges for India due to its missile and satellite tracking capabilities

The ship was 600 nautical miles east of Hambantota, awaiting clearance, according to local Lankan officials. Sri Lanka’s opposition political parties have blamed the government for what they termed was mishandling of the issue.

The Yuan Wang 5 left its Chinese port of origin on July 14 but has not visited a single port along its route for replenishment, according to people familiar with the ship’s schedule. They said it confirmed the Indian suspicion that docking at Hambantota was clearly political and strategic and not related to replenishment.

India, meanwhile, rejected China’s statement that it influenced Lanka to deny entry to the vessel. “We reject insinuations in the statement about India. Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and makes its own independent decisions,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson’s charge earlier this week, without naming any nation, that the opposition to the visit was ‘senseless’ while urging Colombo to “not disturb normal exchanges” between the two countries.

“As regards India-China relations, we have consistently emphasised the necessity of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests as a basis for the development of ties. With regard to our security concerns, this is the sovereign right of every country. We will make the best judgment in our own interest. This naturally takes into account the prevailing situation in our region, especially in border areas,” Bagchi said.

The Sri Lankan foreign ministry had initially sent a note verbale to the Chinese embassy in Colombo, conveying clearances for Yuan Wang 5 to enter the port of Hambantota for ‘replenishments.’ After India expressed security concerns over the docking of the vessel, Colombo requested Beijing to defer the ship’s visit until further consultations. It is understood that the Chinese ambassador told the Sri Lankan government that denial of permission would impact bilateral ties.

India apprehends that the military and strategic implications of the ship in the Indian Ocean would have major consequences for its security architecture. The ship has a distinct role in missile and satellite tracking. Yuan Wang 5’s capabilities are considered lethal compared to Chinese submarines that docked in Colombo in 2014. The aerial reach of the ship is more than 750 km and atomic research centres of Kalpakkam and Koodankulam can be snooped upon. The ship can also track ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

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