Sri Lanka tried to delay the Chinese ship after pressure from India

Sri Lanka tried to delay the Chinese ship after pressure from India

Official sources said on Saturday that Sri Lanka has asked China to indefinitely delay the passage of a vessel from the island's northern neighbor, which Indian media have described as a spy boat.

The Yuan Wang 5 is in transit from the Chinese port of Jiangyin and is scheduled to arrive at the Chinese-run Sri Lankan port of Hambantota on Thursday, according to the research site MarineTraffic.

It is described as a research and exploration ship, but according to Indian media reports, it is a dual-use reconnaissance ship with specific uses in space and satellite surveillance and intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

Indian media have reported that New Delhi is concerned that the ship could be used to spy on its activities and has complained to Colombo in this regard.

India is suspicious of China's growing influence in its southern neighbor Sri Lanka.

"We will closely monitor any impact on India's security and economic interests and take all necessary steps to protect them," the External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi said last week.

In a compiled request, Sri Lanka's unidentified service told the Chinese consulate in Colombo not to proceed with the visit, an official involved in the cycle told AFP on Saturday.

"The ministry requests that the date of arrival of Yuan Wang 5 at Ambantota be postponed pending further consultation on the matter," the request said.

Earlier this week, Colombo brushed aside Indian concerns, saying the ship was only coming to refuel and supply supplies and would not carry out any work in Sri Lankan waters.

In 2014, India protested strongly when two Chinese submarines were stationed in Sri Lanka.

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who borrowed heavily from China during his presidency from 2005 to 2015, was forced to step down last month due to Sri Lanka's worsening economic crisis.