Sri Lanka has officially communicated to India its decision to deny entry to any Chinese research vessel at its ports or within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for a duration of one year, as reported by the Hindustan Times on Sunday.
This decision comes in response to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, urging respect for Indian strategic and security interests. The move effectively means that the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 will not receive clearance for deep-sea exploration activities in the south Indian Ocean.
The moratorium was conveyed to India through diplomatic channels last week, following a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Wickremesinghe on July 21, 2023. Sri Lanka’s decision comes after concerns were raised by India and the United States about Colombo’s engagement with Chinese scientific research vessels and ballistic missile trackers in the Indian Ocean, with the nations providing logistical support.
The one-year ban was notified by the Wickremesinghe government after objections were raised regarding the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 conducting a joint maritime survey with the Sri Lankan maritime agency in October-November. Despite Indian objections, Colombo permitted the vessel to dock at its seaport following President Wickremesinghe’s visit to Beijing for the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on October 17-18.
India had also raised concerns about the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3, scheduled for “deep water exploration” in the south Indian Ocean from January 5, 2024, to late May. The objections were conveyed to President Wickremesinghe by top Indian diplomatic interlocutors.
In the past, Chinese research ships, ballistic missile trackers, and hydrographic vessels have conducted deep surveys in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This includes deployments near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Philippines Sea, and the 90-degree ridge south of these islands. At least 25 Chinese ships, including PLA warships, submarines, ballistic missile trackers, and research vessels, operated in the IOR this year alone, raising concerns for India and the US. Since 2019, a total of 48 Chinese scientific research vessels have been deployed in the IOR, focusing on the coastlines of India and the deep Indian Ocean. Source: The Hindustan Times
