Until Now, Sri Lankan President Ranil Vikramasinghe’s Government Has Not Granted Official Permission. However, Chinese Spy Ship Raises Tensions Near Sri Lankan Coast! The Chinese spy ship ‘Shi Yan 6’ has already set sail towards the Indian Ocean from Chennai coast, about 500 kilometers away in international waters. According to sources, the ship is stationed in international waters, near Sri Lanka’s coast in the Bay of Bengal. From the last week of October, it plans to participate in a joint venture with the Sri Lankan ‘National Aquatic Resource Research and Development Agency.’ The plan is set to continue until the end of November. However, the presence of the Chinese spy ship in Sri Lankan waters has already raised intense concerns from the Indian government. India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, has discussed this matter with Vikramasinghe. Just a few days ago, Jaishankar conveyed, ‘The issue of India’s security is involved in this matter. It is very important to us.’
Previously, last year, China’s surveillance ship ‘Yuan Wang 5’ had visited Sri Lankan ports, causing strong reactions from India. Even before that, in August of the same year, a PLA Navy ship ‘Hai Yang 24 Hao’ had anchored in Sri Lanka, raising initial suspicions. It is believed that the repeated visits of Chinese warships to Sri Lankan naval bases are related to India’s nuclear and missile program. For India, the matter is more concerning due to Sri Lanka’s obligation to keep China engaged. In the past, the government under Rajapaksa had handed over the Hambantota port to China for a period of 99 years.
Under the previous two leaders of Sri Lanka, Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, there was a noticeable growth in the China-Sri Lanka relationship. However, in President Ranil Vikramasinghe’s era, the Sri Lankan position has shifted somewhat, according to some international relations experts. Many hold China responsible for the economic crisis in the country. On the other hand, in the Indo-Pacific region, a coalition has formed comprising the United States, India, Australia, and Japan to counter China’s aggression. There is speculation about whether the change in the position of the Vikramasinghe government will affect the pressure on China. The discussion on this issue continues.
