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Bangkok: With Chinese research vessel anchoring at the strategically important port in Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Wednesday that India monitors any development in its neighbourhood, which affects its security. He made the remarks when asked about the landing of missile and satellite tracking vessel ‘Yuan Wang 5’ at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port on Tuesday. Jaishankar arrived here on Tuesday to attend the 9th meeting of the India-Thailand Joint Commission.
To a question at a joint press conference with his Thailand counterpart Don Pramudawinai after the Joint Commission meeting, Jaishankar said, “Whatever happens in our neighbourhood, any developments that have an impact on our security issues, that’s what happens. But we keep an eye.” Jaishankar said, “I think a spokesperson said a while back, we obviously monitor very carefully any developments that affect our interests. ”
Sri Lankan officials have said that the Chinese vessel will remain at the southern Sri Lankan port till August 22. The vessel was originally scheduled to arrive at the Chinese-run port on August 11, but was delayed due to lack of permission by the Sri Lankan authorities. Amidst India’s concerns, Sri Lanka had asked China to postpone the voyage of the ship. Colombo on Saturday granted the vessel access to the port from August 16 to 22 with the condition that it would keep the Automatic Identification System (AIS) operational only within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and no scientific research would be conducted.
Answer to China on ‘spy’ ship, S Jaishankar said – our eyes on developments related to security issues
China says the ship is used for scientific research, but the US Defense Department says the ship is under the command of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and is capable of tracking satellite and missile launches. China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that the ship was conducting scientific research “in accordance with international law”.
