Sri Lanka has asked China to indefinitely delay a visit by a ship reported by Indian media to be a spy vessel, following intense pressure by the island’s Northern neighbour, the Agence France-Presse reported.
The Yuan Wang 5 is en route from the Chinese Port of Jiangyin and due in the Chinese-run Sri Lankan Port of Hambantota on Thursday, according to Analytics Website MarineTraffic.
It is categorised as a research and survey vessel, but according to Indian Broadcaster CNN-News18 is a dual-use spy ship, employed for space and satellite tracking and with specific usage in intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
Indian media reports stated that New Delhi was worried the vessel would be used to spy on its activities and that it had lodged a complaint with Colombo. India remains suspicious of China’s growing influence in its Southern neighbour Sri Lanka.
New Delhi’s Foreign Ministry stressed that, it will closely monitor “Any bearing on India’s security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them.”
