Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union) _ A Chinese research vessel ‘Shi Yan 6’ has arrived in Sri Lanka’s Port of Colombo for replenishment after vessel gets permission from Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry
Chinese ‘research ship’ Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence had given the ship permission in September to dock at Colombo for replenishment until 28th October, according to a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The spokesperson has asserted according to Indian media reports, that although the vessel had been expected to conduct research with Sri Lankan state institutions, permission was granted only for replenishment and no research work would be conducted.
It has been reported by The Wire that Chinese “research ships” are said to usually have dual purposes. While their primary aim is scientific exploration, what raises the hackles of other countries is the geopolitical purposes for which they are also deployed.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman told South China Morning Post that “Clearance was given for the vessel to come to Colombo for replenishment.”
Reportedly, both Indian and US officials had expressed concerns to their counterparts in Colombo over the docking.
According to China, Shiyan 6 is out on an “expeditionary voyage” in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean, after it had left Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. The vessel “Organised by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences,” is scheduled to operate at sea for 80 days with 28 scientific research projects from 13 research teams onboard, covering a range of more than 12,000 nautical miles (roughly 22,200 km), a report from China’s state-run news channel CGTN had said earlier this month.
The concern over the visit of the Chinese vessel is owing to the fact that it comes months after a Chinese warship was docked at the Colombo port for a few days. Earlier, another Chinese military ship, Yuan Wang 5, had visited Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port last August even after India as well as the US had expressed their concerns. China had said at that time, that it was completely unjustified for certain countries to cite the so-called ‘security concerns’ to pressure Sri Lanka.
India has conveyed to Colombo that it has misgivings about the visit of Chinese vessels to ports in Sri Lanka despite Sri Lanka’s reassurances. Sri Lanka has however, been trying to underline to India that it will not allow its territory to be used for any activity that would threaten the security interests of India in the region.
Chinese ‘Research Ship’ Docks at Sri Lankan Port: Report
Indian and US officials had both reportedly expressed concerns to their counterparts in Colombo over the docking.
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The Chinese research ship ‘Shi Yan 6’ arrived at Colombo port late yesterday after the vessel was permitted by Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry earlier this month.
Foreign Minister M.U.M Ali Sabry had earlier said the Chinese vessel Shi Yan 6 was given permission to dock in November, despite China having sought a port call in October. Mr. Sabry had told the media that the island has come out with an SOP in consultation with several stakeholders, and added that permission would be subject to adhering to the SOP.
It has been further reported that Shi Yan 6 would conduct research with Sri Lanka’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). News agencies menwhile reported that the permission was granted only for replenishment and no research work would be carried out.
The Shi Yan 6 is according to the Chinese state broadcaster CGTN, a “scientific research vessel” crewed by 60 that carries out oceanography, marine geology and marine ecology tests.
The arrival of the vessel in Colombo is likely to add to India’s concerns about China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, Indian media reported.
Last year, India raised concerns over a Sri Lanka port call in Hambantota by Chinese research vessel Yuan Wang 5, which specializes in spacecraft tracking and which New Delhi described as a spy ship.
