Colombo: ‘Yuan Wang 5’, a Chinese ship capable of capturing sensitive information needed for espionage and attack, was scheduled to visit Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. This has increased the threat to Defence bases on the southern coast of India and ISRO’s satellite launch base at Chandipur. Therefore, there were reports that India would take serious note of this and discuss the matter with Sri Lanka. Considering Indian concerns, Sri Lanka has stopped this Chinese ship from entering the Hambantota port. This is a huge blow delivered by Sri Lanka to China.
Moreover, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured that ‘Yuan Wang 5’ will not arrive at Hambantota port as per the schedule. He made this claim while speaking at the meeting of his political party. The media has highlighted this news. This is a great diplomatic success for India. Because if ‘Yuan Wang 5’ had visited Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port, it would have threatened Indian security. That is why the Ministry of External Affairs of India had said that the country’s eyes were locked on this development. It was also revealed that India has prepared to raise this issue with Sri Lanka diplomatically.
China had requested Sri Lanka to allow its ‘Yuan Wang 5’ ship to enter the Indian Ocean and allow it to dock at Hambantota port for refuelling. China had also claimed that the movement of this ship in the Indian Ocean was not a special matter. But any activities carried out by the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean region are not routine. It has been revealed several times before that China is moving in this maritime area, considering the Indian capabilities.
In such a situation, India had taken this Hambantota visit of the ‘Yuan Wang 5’ ship and the further journey of this ship in the Indian Ocean region very seriously. That is why India raised this issue with Sri Lanka and clearly expressed its concerns in this regard. At present, the situation in Sri Lanka has become dire and the people of Sri Lanka have to bear the dire consequences of a shortage of food grains, electricity and fuel. Due to this, there has been a big political upheaval in this country and the previous Rajapaksa government was overthrown and the new government of Wickremasinghe has come to power. Considering Sri Lanka’s dire economic and political situation, China was prepared to take advantage of it. It was revealed that China is preparing to use Sri Lanka again against India by sending the ‘Yuan Wang 5’ ship to Hambantota port.
China argued that Sri Lanka, which has great financial expectations from China, cannot deny the entry of ‘Yuan Wang 5’. But the President of Sri Lanka seems to have denied the Chinese ship access to the Hambantota port, keeping in mind India’s objection. This is seen as another blow by Sri Lanka to China. China is largely responsible for the present condition of Sri Lanka and it was China that entangled Sri Lanka in its debt trap. Thus, Sri Lanka was forced to hand over the Hambantota port to China for 99 years.
China had plans to convert this Sri Lankan port into its naval base. But China could not do so given Indian pressure. It seems China has devised a new strategy against India by trying this again. But this time, it appears that the new government of Sri Lanka, which is cautious, has thwarted China’s activities with India’s help.
Related posts:
China warns Philippines of serious consequences over South China Sea
Japanese economy suffers against the background of US-China trade war
Japan starts Crisis Response Headquarters to retaliate against China
Tension because of Joint patrolling by Russia and China near the South Korean and Japanese borders
Malaysia seizes 6 Chinese boats for intruding into territorial waters, 60 Chinese citizens arrested
Sri Lankan army ordered to shoot at rioters amid rising violence
India’s pressure on Sri Lanka is meaningless – China’s foreign ministry criticises
