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After pressure from India, Sri Lanka urges China to defer entry of Chinese 'spy' ship
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IANS | 06 Aug, 2022
Amid pressure from its immediate neighbour India, Sri Lanka has urged
China to delay the entry of controversial Chinese ship 'Yuan Wang 5'
into the Chinese controlled port in Southern Hambantota.
In
a letter to the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, the Foreign Ministry of Sri
Lanka stated, "The Ministry wishes to request that the arrival date of
the vessel Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota to be deferred until further
consultation is made on this matter."
Referring to the permission
given on July 12 allowing the Chinese ship to enter the Hambantota
Port, the Foreign Ministry said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presents its compliments to
the Embassy of People's Republic of China in Colombo and has the honour
to refer to the Ministry's Note No. PR/0640/2022 dated July 12, 2022
conveying the clearances for the visit of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 to
enter the Port of Hambantota for replenishment purposes."
Weeks
ahead of the visit of the Chinese 'spy' ship, India had expressed its
concern with the government of Sri Lanka. India had cautioned that it
monitors closely all the developments with regard to her security, in
the backdrop of the arrival of Chinese 'research' vessel which was
planned to reach Hambantota on August 11.
According to a
bilateral agreement signed in 1987, no Sri Lankan port can be allowed to
be used for military purposes by any country in a manner prejudicial to
India's interests.
In response to India's concern, Sri Lanka had
earlier stated that the visit of the Chinese ship was only for
"refuelling and replenishing of other facilities and provisions".
"The
ship or members of its crew will not involve in any internal affairs or
business in Sri Lanka. China and India have always helped Sri Lanka
domestically and in the international fora as true friends," Cabinet
spokesman and Media Minister Bandula Gunawarndena had stated.
"Sri
Lanka would not do anything to harm the good understanding and trust
existing between the two countries for millennia. Under no circumstances
would Sri Lanka act detrimental to the interests of India or China as
both nations have been Sri Lanka's friends-in-need and have stood
alongside Sri Lanka at all times," he had said.
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