Defenсe News
Top stories about the Indian Army, its partners & rivals in the region and the international arena.

Chinese Warship Kickstarts Two-Day Official Visit to Sri Lanka

© AP Photo / UnknownIn this image supplied by the Australian Department of Defence, Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Intelligence Collection Vessel Haiwangxing operating off the north-west shelf of Australia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022.
In this image supplied by the Australian Department of Defence, Chinese People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Intelligence Collection Vessel Haiwangxing operating off the north-west shelf of Australia, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. - Sputnik India, 1920, 11.08.2023
Subscribe
Indian PM Modi said during the visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to New Delhi last month that the security of two nations was “linked”. Modi said that both the nations should respect each other’s “sensitivities”.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warship 'Hai Yang 24 Hao' has arrived on a two-day formal visit to Colombo, a Sri Lankan Navy statement said on Thursday.

“The 129 metre-long ship, which arrived in Colombo, is manned by a crew of 138 and it is commanded by Commander Jin Xin. Meanwhile, the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 12th August,” the statement said.

Sri Lankan media quoted sources as saying that New Delhi was “okay” with the port visit of the Chinese warship. They said that New Delhi was only opposed to the visits by Chinese research vessels to the Indian Ocean country, which is located close to the southern tip of Indian mainland.

Last July, the Indian External Affairs Ministry (EAM) had stated that it regularly monitors all the developments which have a bearing on India's security issues, against the backdrop of the visit of Chinese research vessel 'Yuan Wang 5' to Sri Lanka.

“What happens in our neighborhood, any development, which has a bearing on our security issues, is of interest to us,” India’s top diplomat S. Jaishankar had said last year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at the time that the activities of Yuan Wang 5 were "consistent with international law and international customary practice".
"They do not affect the security and economic interests of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party," the Chinese official stated.

Sri Lanka Has Policy of Cooperation and Friendship with All Countries

The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry had said in a statement last August that the country has a “policy of cooperation and friendship with all countries”.
The statement was released to reveal details about the visit of the Chinese research vessel to Hambantota, amid reported concerns expressed by New Delhi at the time.
Reports in the media described the Chinese research vessel as a “satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship”.

“Security and cooperation in the neighborhood is of utmost priority. It is Sri Lanka’s intention to safeguard the legitimate interests of all countries, in keeping with its international obligations,” the Sri Lankan foreign ministry said.

Yuan Wang 5 called on Hambantota between August 16 and 22.
Beijing is reportedly the biggest bilateral lender of cash-strapped Sri Lanka, and its support is critical as Colombo discusses the restructuring of its debt with bilateral and multilateral donors.
Meanwhile, India, Colombo's other big financial partner, has offered nearly $4 billion in aid to Sri Lanka since the island entered a phase of financial turmoil in 2021.
Facing a growing balance-of-payments crisis, Sri Lanka defaulted on its external debt payments last May.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe - Sputnik India, 1920, 21.07.2023
World News
India Launches UPI Digital Payments System in Sri Lanka, Modi Says
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала