Chinese miltary survey ship finally leaves Hambantoa Port
A CHINESE military survey ship that docked at Sri Lanka’s Chinese-built port of Hambantota despite opposition from India left on Monday (22) after a weeklong stay, the port company said.
Analysts say the Yuan Wang 5 is among a group of Chinese ships that monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.
India 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.
Colombo allowed the Yuan Wang 5 to visit the deep-sea port on the condition that it would not engage in research in Sri Lankan waters.
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.
“Our pilot is onboard and the ship is leaving port,” a harbour official said as the vessel was being guided out by tug boats.
“They have given the port of Jiangyin as their next destination.”
The vessel said to be carrying about 400 crew had set off from Jiangyin in mid July.