New Delhi and Beijing have been sparring about the docking of Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota port earlier this month.
The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka on Saturday said that the Chinese ambassador had violated basic etiquette in his remarks about Beijing’s research vessel that had docked in the island nation from August 16 to August 22.
Earlier this month, Colombo had allowed the Yuan Wang 5 ship to visit the Chinese-built and leased Hambantota port on the condition that it would not engage in research in Sri Lankan waters. Indian media reports claimed that the 730-foot vessel is a dual-use spy ship.
The vessel was initially scheduled to arrive in the port on August 11, but Sri Lanka deferred the visit on August 8, citing “certain concerns”, apparently referring to objections from New Delhi.
On Friday, in a veiled criticism of India, Qi Zhenhong, China’s envoy in Colombo, said that “external obstruction” based on so-called security concerns without any evidence is a “thorough interference” into Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and independence.
