South African port operators claim that Chinese ships stopped by the South African por

South African port operators said that the Chinese ships stopped at South Africa ports were scientific test ships, not detection ships.

According to Bloomberg, the South African Transportation Company's TRANSNET NATIONAL PORTS Authority replied by email on Thursday (April 6) that the Chinese examination ship "Yuanwang 5" refueling at the port of Diban, Supplement of fresh water and supplies.

Transnet said that the purpose of this ship in South Africa's waters does not have the right to "ask such information."The Ministry of Transport in South Africa has not responded to the inquiry request.

Transnet also said that the ship left the port of Duban to the Gonghai and planned to stop at the port of Cape Town a month later.

Data show that Yuanwang 5 is the aerospace ocean measurement ship independently developed by China, which has the function of tracking rockets and spacecraft launch.In August last year, the ship was also opposed by neighboring countries and India when the ship stopped in Hangban Tota, Sri Lanka. At that time, Indian media pointed out that the ship was a "spy boat" and may monitor the Indian military facilities.

Bloomberg analyzed that the suspension in South Africa this time may exacerbate Western countries' concerns that South Africa is moving closer to China and Russia.Like China, South Africa has not condemned Moscow for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.In February this year, South Africa also held maritime military exercises with China and Russia, so it was criticized by Western countries led by the United States.