Chinese spy vessel Yuan Wang 5 arrives in Sri Lanka despite India, US concerns.

August 17, 2022

The controversial Chinese research ship Yuan Wang 5 arrived and docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port.
The vessel is capable of tracking satellites and intercontinental missiles.
The research and survey vessel, which has been dubbed as ‘spy ship’ was earlier scheduled to dock at the Chinese-leased Hambantota Port on August 11.
But after India raised its concerns, Sri Lanka confirmed that it has communicated to China to defer the visit of the Yuang Wang 5 vessel to Hambantota Port.
India had expressed its security concerns over the docking of the vessel at the Sri Lankan port as it was shown as a research vessel with the capability of mapping the ocean bed, which is critical to anti-submarine operations of the Chinese Navy.
The ship could conduct satellite research in the north western part of the Indian Ocean region, prompting security concerns for India.
Designated as a research and survey vessel, Yuan Wang 5 was built in 2007 and has a carrying capacity of 11,000 tonnes.
Hambantota Port, located around 250 km from Colombo was built with high-interest Chinese loans.
The Sri Lankan government struggled to repay the debt they had taken from China following which the port was handed over to the Chinese on a 99-year lease.