(Colombo Reuters) Sri Lanka government sources said that due to India's opposition, Sri Lanka has asked China to postpone the steps of a survey ship.
The Chinese inspection ship "Yuanwang 5" is still on the way to Hambantota, Sri Lanka.According to the Refinitiv Ship Tracking data, it is scheduled to arrive on Thursday (August 11).
India is worried that the ports of Handon Tota, built and rented by China, will be used by China as a military base in the Indian backyard.This port costs $ 1.5 billion (about S $ 2.07 billion) to build, close to major routes from Asia to Europe.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to the comment request.
Last week, a spokesman for the Sri Lanka government said that Yuanwang 5 was only stopped at the port of Hantan.
China is one of Sri Lanka's largest creditor's rights, and also subsidizes Langka Airport, highways and railways.This makes India feel uneasy.
Sri Lanka is in the worst economic crisis in 70 years.Its neighboring country India has provided it with nearly $ 4 billion in funding this year.
Since the conflict between India and China in 2020 on the remote Himalayan border, the relationship between the two countries has been nervous.At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed in that battle. After the two sides, the two sides assembled the army on a large scale on the border.
Foreign security analysts pointed out that Yuanwang 5 is one of China's latest space tracking vessels to monitor the launch of satellites, rockets and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
