NEW DELHI: Soon after Sri Lanka sought a deferment of the planned docking of a Chinese research vessel at the strategic Hambantota port over which India had raised concerns, China’s embassy has reportedly sought an urgent meeting with senior Sri Lankan authorities to discuss the matter, sources said.
The Chinese space and satellite tracking research vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ was scheduled to dock at the Hambantota Port from August 11-17 for “refuelling and replenishment’ and will conduct satellite control and research tracking in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September.
In a communication from Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry to the Chinese embassy in Colombo dated August 5, it said that the ministry wishes to request that the arrival of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota to be deferred until further consultations.
India has conveyed Sri Lanka that the docking of the high-tech Chinese research vessel could pose a threat to its national security as the ship is capable to track satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to media report.