US and India Express Concerns About Chinese Spy Vessel in Sri Lanka
Chinese Spy Vessel Docks in Sri Lanka
Overt Operator
September 28, 2023
The United States has voiced its concern to Sri Lanka over a research vessel belonging to China, which is expected to dock in the island country next month. India has also raised objections to this development.
Victoria Nuland, the US Under Secretary, who met Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, in New York on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly session, raised several concerns regarding the visit of Shi Yan 6, the research vessel of China.
The vessel is expected to arrive in October and will research with Sri Lanka’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
The Shi Yan 6 is an advanced scientific research vessel with a 60-member crew specialising in oceanography, marine ecology, and marine geology tests.
India objects to China’s vessels docking in Sri Lanka, which it considers a security threat and suspects could be used for snooping. Earlier this year, the US shot down what it referred to as a Chinese spy balloon floating over its territory, while Beijing said it was a weather balloon.
In 2022, India had objected to a ballistic missile and satellite tracking vessel belonging to China at the Hambantota port on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. After India raised its concerns, Sri Lanka had asked China to postpone the vessel’s arrival, but later allowed the docking.
The vessel, dubbed Yuan Wang 5, is used for tracking rocket, satellite, and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches. India feared that Yuan Wang 5’s aerial reach would indicate several ports in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh would be on China’s radar, and several key installations all over south India could be snooped upon.
In 2014, India and Sri Lanka’s ties had come under strain regarding Colombo permitting a nuclear-powered submarine belonging to China to dock at one of the ports.
After Nuland raised concerns, Sabry informed her that Sri Lanka has tried to work out a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by foreign vessels and aircraft executing activities in the territory. As part of the even-handed approach, they cannot exclude China.
The United States and India have raised concerns over the docking of a Chinese research vessel in Sri Lanka next month. India suspects that the vessel can be used for snooping and is a security threat. The vessel is expected to arrive in October and will research with Sri Lanka’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
The Shi Yan 6 is an advanced scientific research vessel with a 60-member crew specialising in oceanography, marine ecology, and marine geology.
India had previously objected to a ballistic missile and satellite tracking vessel belonging to China at the Hambantota port on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. After India raised its concerns, Sri Lanka had asked China to postpone the vessel’s arrival, but later allowed the docking.
The US Under Secretary, Victoria Nuland, raised several concerns regarding the visit of Shi Yan 6 to Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Ali Sabry, in New York. Sabry informed Nuland that Sri Lanka has tried to work out a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed by foreign vessels and aircraft executing activities in the territory. As part of the even-handed approach, they cannot exclude China.