China Spy Ship: Sri Lanka has decided to lift a ban on the arrival of foreign research vessels from next year, Japanese media reported. The ban was imposed after security concerns were raised following repeated requests by high-tech Chinese spy ships to anchor at Sri Lankan ports.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry informed ‘NHK World Japan’ about the decision to lift the ban. New Delhi had expressed concern over the increasing movement of Chinese research ships in the Indian Ocean and suspected them to be spy ships and urged Colombo not to allow such ships to come to its ports.
The stay of research ships was banned from this year
Sri Lanka banned foreign research vessels from anchoring in its ports in January after India raised concerns. However, an exemption was made for a Chinese ship earlier this year. According to a report by NHK World Japan on Friday, Sabri said his government cannot make different rules for different countries. He said his country would not take sides in a dispute between others.
Spying will start again from next year
This ban is till January next year. Sabri said that Sri Lanka will not ban foreign research ships from anchoring at its ports from next year. Two Chinese spy ships were allowed to anchor at Sri Lankan ports.
The Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka in October 2023 and docked at the Colombo port. Before its arrival, the US had expressed concern to Sri Lanka. In August 2022, the Chinese naval ship Yuan Wang 5 arrived at the Hambantota port in southern Sri Lanka.
read this also: