India

India says it will protect its interests as Chinese boat heads to Sri Lanka

India, which is trying to expand its influence in crisis-hit Sri Lanka after China made deep inroads there, on Thursday said it has received reports about a planned visit of a Chinese
vessel to a Sri Lankan port built with money from Beijing.

Shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon showed that the research and survey vessel Yuan Vang 5 was en route to the southern Sri Lankan port of Hambantota and was expected to arrive on 11 August.

“The government carefully monitors any developments relating to India’s security and economic interests and takes all necessary measures to protect them,” India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told a weekly media briefing.

“I think it should be a clear message.” He did not specify what measures India was taking and to whom the message was addressed.

China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sri Lankan officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

A Sri Lankan government official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that Indian diplomats in Colombo lodged a verbal protest with Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry on Monday.

A Sri Lankan consulting firm, Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, said on its website that Yuan Wang 5 will be in Hambantota for a week.

“The ship will conduct space tracking, satellite control and research tracking in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean region during August and September,” it says https://brisl.org/chinas-major-scientific-research-vessel- In-Hambantota-port, without citing any sources.

Sri Lanka formally handed over commercial activities in its main southern port to a Chinese company in 2017 on a 99-year lease after struggling to pay its debts. The port is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe.

US and Indian officials are concerned that the $1.5 billion port could become a Chinese military base.

Beijing is welcome to pour more money into massive China-backed projects in Hambantota and Colombo, a Sri Lankan official told Reuters on Monday.

China is one of Sri Lanka’s biggest lenders and has also funded India’s troubled airports, roads and railways.

As Sri Lanka now battles its worst economic crisis in seven decades, India this year alone has provided its support of nearly $4 billion.

Responding to a tweet on the proposed Hambantota visit, Indian security analyst Nitin A. Gokhale invoked Sri Lanka’s decision to allow a Chinese submarine and a warship to dock in Colombo in 2014, a move that angered India at the time.

“2014 redux?” Gokhale said on Twitter. “Harmless port call or deliberate provocation?”

India’s concerns over Chinese influence in Sri Lanka come as US President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping held their fifth call as leaders on Thursday amid tensions over a possible visit to Chinese-claimed Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said on Thursday, that Taiwan’s military opened fire to warn a drone that it was “looking” at a strategically located and heavily fortified island close to the Chinese coast that could potentially protect its defences.

Nisha

Hi, my name is Nisha and I'm an educational journalist based in India. I've always been passionate about the power of education to transform lives, and that's what led me to pursue a career in journalism focused on this area. I completed my Bachelor's degree in English from Hindu College in Delhi in 2013 and then went on to earn my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in 2017. During my studies, I also completed several short-term courses on Education in India, Sociology, and other related subjects to deepen my knowledge in this field. I'm particularly interested in improving access to quality education in rural areas, where students often face significant challenges. I've worked on a number of initiatives to address this issue, including advocating for better policies, resources, and practices that can make a difference. As an educational journalist, I'm passionate about using my platform to highlight important issues in the education space. I've covered a wide range of topics, including the impact of technology in the classroom, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and the challenges facing students from marginalized communities. One of the things I love most about my work is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow. I'm an avid reader and believe that reading is key to expanding one's knowledge and perspective. I'm always seeking out new ideas and insights to help me better understand the world around me. In summary, as an educational journalist, I'm dedicated to using my skills and expertise to make a positive impact in the field of education. I'm committed to improving access to quality education for all students and to using my platform to raise awareness about important issues in this area.

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