On Tuesday morning, the Yuan Wang 5 sailed into the Beijing-built port of Hambantota and was welcomed by senior Sri Lankan and Chinese officials in a traditional ceremony that included a red carpet and a huge banner that read: “Hi your sri lanka Long live Sri Lanka-China friendship.” Although the ship will only remain for a few days, the development is already raising alarm bells in India, which views China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean with suspicion. Analysts say Yuan Wang’s moves will also be closely watched by the US and Western allies as they have long criticized Beijing’s dealings with Sri Lanka. Officially, Sri Lanka refers to the Yuan Wang 5 as a “scientific research vessel”. “But the suspicion here in India is that, despite Chinese commentators’ insistence that it is political, it may actually have military functions,” said Professor Srikanth Kondapalli, dean of the school of international studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. On Tuesday, Indian news agencies picked up on the latest development. “The Yuan Wang 5 is a powerful surveillance vessel whose significant aerial range – reportedly around 750km – means that many ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh could be on China’s radar,” wrote the Indian Express newspaper. Brahma Chellaney, a former member of India’s national security advisory council, said on Twitter: “When a small, bankrupt nation like Sri Lanka delivers a diplomatic slap in the face to New Delhi by hosting a Chinese surveillance ship in the commercial port of Hambantota, it is a stunning reminder of both of India’s reckless foreign policy as well as the retreat of influence in its strategic backyard.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin dismissed such concerns. “The marine scientific research conducted by the research vessel Yuan Wang 5 is in accordance with international law and international common practice and will not affect the security and economic interests of any country,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday. Sri Lanka in recent months has been plunged into serious economic problems. Chinese loans account for about 10% of the country’s total external debt. But as of this year, India has also lent about $3.8 billion to help Sri Lanka overcome its financial crisis. China’s move into geopolitically important Sri Lanka underscores Colombo’s delicate diplomatic balance caught between major powers at a time of economic desperation. It also came just a day after Delhi on Monday donated a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Colombo. Delhi said the gesture was aimed at more effectively addressing multiple security challenges such as human and drug trafficking as well as other crimes in its coastal waters. Indian foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said last week that India was aware of the ship’s planned visit and was closely monitoring any developments affecting its security and economic interests and would take all measures to safeguard them. Delhi also “rejected insinuations” that Sri Lanka was pressured into delaying the Chinese ship. Colombo said it had “engaged in extensive high-level consultations through the diplomatic channel with all interested parties” before granting the Chinese vessel the final clearance.
