Sri Lanka permits China's space-tracking vessel to land at Chinese-run port

Sri Lanka has granted permission for the Chinese space-tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock at a port that China runs. The Hambantota port is the southernmost in Sri Lanka and has raised the concern of India.

World 20:02 14.08.2022
The Chinese space-tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 was given permission to dock early next week at Sri Lanka's southernmost port, Hambantota, Sri Lanka said recently. 
 
Hambantota has been a Chinese-run port since 2017 when Sri Lanka and China signed a 99-year lease after Colombo struggled to pay back debt.
 
The Yuan Wang 5 survey vessel is described by security analysts as the latest generation of China's space-tracking ships capable of monitoring satellites, rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
 
Washington has said Yuan Wang class ships are operated by the Strategic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army.
 
What does China want?
 
China and India have been in competition to expand influence in Sri Lanka as Colombo faces the most severe economic crisis since independence.
 
China agreed to restructure infrastructure loans to Sri Lanka, a critical step for the country to reach a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund.
 
The Yuan Wang 5 had been scheduled to arrive at Hambantota on Thursday, August 11, but its revised schedule currently has it docking Tuesday, August 16.
 
Colombo said the Yuan Wang 5 is only scheduled to resupply and has no specific scientific research mission to carry out in Sri Lankan waters.
 
What does India fear?
 
India has delivered the largest amount of aid of any country in the form of food, fuel, medicine and cooking gas to Sri Lanka, but is wary of Beijing's expanding influence in the Indian Ocean.
 
Delhi fears Beijing wants to use Hambantota as a military base and may be docking to enable surveillance of Indian military installations. At the same time, India disavowed assertions that it had attempted to pressure Sri Lanka to turn the Yuan Wang 5 away.
 
A spokesperson for India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said, "We reject categorically the 'insinuation' and such statement about India. Sri Lanka is a sovereign country and makes its own independent decisions."
 
Bagchi added that India was aware of a planned visit by the Yuan Wang 5 and intends to safeguard Delhi's security and economic interests.

 

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Spain voices concern over Iran's suspension of cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog
23:35 03.07.2025
Pope Leo can play important role in improving US-North Korea ties, says Cardinal Lazzaro You
23:00 03.07.2025
UN rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territory says accountability needed over killings of aid-seekers in Gaza
22:35 03.07.2025
Gaza ceasefire proposal calls for release of 10 Israeli hostages, includes US assurances to end war Report
22:00 03.07.2025
Australian man dies from 'extremely rare' bat bite virus
21:30 03.07.2025
Armenia restarts constitutional reform talks
21:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani wrestler crowned European champion
21:00 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani boxer qualifies for World Cup semifinals
20:30 03.07.2025
Liverpool rejects Bayern Munich's approach for Diaz
20:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev inspected site designated for Khankandi-Shusha cable car construction
19:35 03.07.2025
Presidents of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan review operations of Businesstex JV sewing factory in Khankandi
19:20 03.07.2025
Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi
19:15 03.07.2025
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif begins visit to Azerbaijan
19:00 03.07.2025
Cyberattacks on Azerbaijani state bodies slightly rising
18:45 03.07.2025
Height of the Victory Arch in Khankandi to be 44 meters
18:15 03.07.2025
Nigerian minister to attend 17th ECO Summit in Khankandi
18:00 03.07.2025
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrives in Fuzuli district
17:45 03.07.2025
Opening ceremony of Khankandi Congress Center held
17:30 03.07.2025
China ready to sign nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty
17:15 03.07.2025
President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus arrives in Fuzuli district
17:00 03.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev attends opening of Khankandi Business Center
16:45 03.07.2025
Turkish president to visit Khankandi on July 4
16:30 03.07.2025
Iran calls negotiations with European countries 'meaningless'
16:15 03.07.2025
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev receives Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers in Khankandi
16:00 03.07.2025
Scorching European heatwave turns deadly in Spain, Italy and France
15:45 03.07.2025
National Defense University hosts training as part of NATO programme
15:30 03.07.2025
3 killed, 16 injured in mass shooting at Chicago nightclub
15:20 03.07.2025
China is not US, and challenges to Europe won’t come from Beijing: Top diplomat
15:15 03.07.2025
Russia restricts access to Azerbaijani news websites
15:00 03.07.2025
2 killed, 11 injured in Russian strikes in Ukraine's Poltava
14:45 03.07.2025
Trump may arm Israel with US B-2s, bunker busters
14:30 03.07.2025
Foundation stone laid for Khankandi Railway and Bus Terminal Complex
14:20 03.07.2025
Baku, Kabul mull development of Lapis Lazuli corridor
14:15 03.07.2025
Azerbaijani deputy FM mulls areas of cooperation with Afghan counterpart
14:00 03.07.2025
Israeli president receives new ambassador to Azerbaijan
13:50 03.07.2025
5US lifts chip software curbs on China amid trade truce
13:45 03.07.2025
Tajikistan and Saudi Fund for Development set to expand project financing
13:30 03.07.2025
S. Korean President vows to improve relations with N. Korea based on cooperation with US
13:10 03.07.2025
Politico: Ukraine expects Europe to buy weapons for it from US
13:00 03.07.2025
State Department: Bringing Russia-Ukraine war to end remains Trump's priority
12:45 03.07.2025
Hamısı