Amid Concerns About Spying In India, A Chinese "Spy Ship" Docks In Lanka Port

In response to India's fears about spying, a Chinese ship equipped to track satellites and intercontinental missiles arrived this morning in Sri Lanka's Hambantota port. The Chinese ship Wang Yang 5 docked at the Sri Lankan port about 8.30 am, according to sources.

India was worried about the high-tech ship's presence in the area, therefore Sri Lanka had earlier asked China to delay the visit. On Saturday, Sri Lanka gave the go-ahead for docking. According to information obtained, New Delhi is concerned about the likelihood that the ship's tracking equipment would try to snoop on Indian sites. 

The ship was given permission to dock at the port under the condition that it refrain from conducting scientific research while in Sri Lankan seas and maintain its Automatic Identification System (AIS) turned on. According to Colombo, the security clearance was given for the high-tech warship to arrive for replenishing between August 16 and August 22. 

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying, "The security and cooperation in the neighbourhood are of highest priority in managing the situation of the Chinese vessel Wang Yang 5." According to the statement, "the government took into account the interests of all parties involved and in accordance with the concept of sovereign equality of states." 

Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the external affairs ministry, stated last week that India will make the right decision regarding its security interests and that it considers the regional situation, particularly in border areas. He had remarked, "The government takes all necessary measures to preserve India's security and economic interests and carefully monitors any development having an influence on them." 

According to earlier statements from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, it is "absolutely wrong for certain countries to invoke the so-called "security concerns" in order to put pressure on Sri Lanka."