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.
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.