Chinese surveillance ship set to dock in Sri Lanka - can Yuan Wang 5 be used to spy on India?

India worries that the Chinese-built and leased port of Hambantota will be used by China as a military base in India's backyard. The $1.5 billion port is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe.

TN National Desk

Updated Aug 2, 2022, 00:21 IST

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Photo : ANI

Beijing: A Chinese ship's impending visit to Sri Lanka has sparked alarm in India, with officials voicing concerns that the vessel may be used for eavesdropping on the other country. India has already lodged a verbal protest with the Sri Lankan government. China meanwhile has not commented on the ship's visit, except to voice hope that "relevant parties" would refrain from interfering with its legitimate maritime activities.

The research and survey vessel - Yuan Wang 5 - is currently en route to Sri Lanka's Hambantota Post and shipping data indicates that it will arrive on August 11. According to details uploaded by a Sri Lankan consulting firm onto its website, it will be in Hambantota for a week and will "conduct space tracking, satellite control and research tracking in the north-western part of the Indian Ocean region through August and September".

According to an Economic Times report, the ship has an aerial reach of more than 750 km. This in turn would mean that the ship can theoretically snoop on places such as Kalpakkam, Koodankulam, and the atomic research centre within Indian borders. It can also gather information about vital installations along southern India including the ports of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

There is also a possibility (as per unconfirmed reports) that the ship may be denied entry to the Sri Lankan port. Hambantota Port had incidentally been leased to China Merchant Port Holdings after the other country was unable to keep its loan repayment commitments. The situation has also fanned fears that the port could potentially be used for military purposes.

Foreign security analysts describe the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China's latest generation space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. The Pentagon's annual report on China's military modernisation says the Yuan Wang ships are operated by the Strategic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army.

Relations between India and China have been strained since armed clashes on their border two years ago killed at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers and led to a massive build-up of troops on both sides. The developments also come at a time when Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades. India has provided its neighbour with nearly $4 billion in support this year alone.

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