China has formally requested permission for one of its research ships, the Shi Yan 6, to dock in Sri Lanka, according to the Colombo government.
The request comes after concerns were raised by neighboring India following the visit of a Chinese spacecraft-tracking vessel last year, which was seen as a potential security threat.
Priyanga Wickramasinghe, spokesperson for the Sri Lankan foreign ministry, confirmed that Beijing has sought permission for the Shi Yan 6 to dock in Colombo.
However, no specific date has been set yet, and the request is currently being processed by the authorities. The Shi Yan 6 is described by Chinese state broadcaster CGTN as a scientific research vessel equipped with a crew of 60. It primarily carries out tests related to oceanography, marine geology, and marine ecology.
India's concerns about China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in Sri Lanka have been well-documented. India considers both regions to be within its own sphere of influence.
Last year, India expressed its worries when the Chinese research vessel Yuan Wang 5 made a port call in Hambantota, which India described as a spy ship specializing in spacecraft tracking.
To address India's concerns, Sri Lanka had previously requested that China refrain from conducting any research activities while in Sri Lankan waters. Sri Lanka is strategically located along key east-west international shipping routes.
The Hambantota port, where the Chinese research vessel previously docked, has been operated by China since 2017. China secured a 99-year lease for the port in exchange for $1.12 billion, significantly less than the $1.4 billion that Sri Lanka paid a Chinese firm to construct it
