Chinese military ship leaves Sri Lanka after controversial visit

China Merchants Port Holdings

22/08/2022 13:35

COLOMBO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - A Chinese military survey ship
that docked at Sri Lanka's Chinese-built port of Hambantota
despite opposition from neighbouring India left on Monday after
a week-long stay, the port company told Reuters.
    Analysts say the Yuan Wang 5 is among a group of Chinese
ships that monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental
ballistic missile launches. India, Sri Lanka's northern
neighbour, fears China could use the port as a military base.
    Sri Lanka, facing its worst economic crisis in decades and
in need of financial support from both China and India, had
delayed the ship's arrival after India raised its concerns but
gave in to Chinese demands later.
    The ship has now left the southern Sri Lankan port, said the
Hambantota International Port Group, a partnership between Sri
Lanka's government and China Merchants Port Holdings  0144.HK .
    The ship's next destination was not immediately known.
    The Pentagon says the Yuan Wang ships are operated by the
Strategic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army.
    Yuan Wang 5 Captain Zhang Hongwang said last week that the
ship's visit would "deepen the exchange between China and Sri
Lanka in the field of space science and technology and promote
the common progress of the space industry of the two countries".
    China says the Hambantota port http://www.hipg.lk/2022/yuan-wang-5-docks-at-hambantota-port,
 leased by China Merchants  in 2017 for 99 years, is a key part
of its Belt and Road initiative linking infrastructure projects
in various countries.

 (Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; Writing by Krishna N. Das;
Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
 ((Krishna.Das@tr.com; https://twitter.com/krishnadas56 ;))