COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — After weeks of uncertainty, a Chinese survey vessel docked at a Sri Lankan port on Tuesday, heightening tensions between neighboring India and China over the Indian leader’s growing influence over the Chinese government in the region Power is getting more and more worried.
The research vessel, which belongs to the "Yuanwang" series used by the Chinese military to track satellite and ballistic missile launches, is scheduled to stop at Hambantota port in southern Sri Lanka for several days to refuel. China was awarded a 99-year lease on the port after Sri Lanka failed to repay a loan China provided to build the port .
For Sri Lanka, China's request to dock deepens the island nation's long-standing quandary of survival between two giant rivals, as the Sri Lankan government struggles to bring the country out of de facto bankruptcy .
China has been a long-term ally in Sri Lanka's construction and development, providing the country with massive loans for much more than this port project. India has provided nearly $4 billion in aid to Sri Lanka in recent months as Sri Lanka's foreign exchange reserves are depleted and unable to pay for imports of basic necessities.
The Sri Lankan government had initially asked China to delay the ship's arrival until "further consultations" took place, revealing its predicament. Later late last week, the Sri Lankan government said it would allow the ship to dock.
Some analysts in India saw Sri Lanka's decision as a "diplomatic slap in the face", with India worried that the Chinese ship could be used to spy on some locations in the southern part of the country.
India and the United States are members of a "quartet of alliances" aimed at curbing China's rising influence in the region, Sri Lankan officials told the New York Times at the recent Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo and Cambodia. Their concerns were all raised at the Union ministerial meeting.
India's concerns about the Chinese vessel have heightened tensions over China's encroachment on India's land border in the Himalayas . The militaries of the two countries have engaged in deadly skirmishes in the region and have been in a state of readiness for more than two years. Despite 16 rounds of talks between the two sides, they have not been able to reach an agreement on disengagement of the two armies in the Ladakh region.
After questions about the Chinese ships surfaced, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Alindam Baghchi said last month that "the government is closely monitoring any developments affecting India's security and economic interests and will take all necessary measures. protect national security and interests".
China's foreign ministry responded without naming names, saying "it is totally unreasonable for some countries to pressure Sri Lanka with so-called security concerns."
Sri Lanka's foreign ministry said "extensive consultations" were held with the parties concerned in the ensuing weeks. After approving China's request to dock, the government downplayed its importance, noting that the country had allowed naval ships from many countries, including the United States and Japan, to dock.
Just a day before Yuanwang 5 arrived in Sri Lanka, India donated a Dornier maritime reconnaissance plane to Sri Lanka, demonstrating the efforts of India and China to try to influence the small island nation.
"The benefits of India's development, India's strength are shared with all our friends and neighbours," Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, Gopal Baghley, said at the ceremony.
The next day, after the Chinese ship docked in Sri Lanka, China's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, said it was "nothing special".
a4anees
Asked if the delay was the result of India's opposition, he said : "I don't know. Maybe that's life."
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Muhammad Anees
Rana anees
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