Sri Lanka bans entry of Chinese research ships to dock at its ports for 1 year

Sri Lanka has reportedly informed India that it will not allow any Chinese research vessel to dock at its port or operate within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for one year, Hindustan Times reported while citing people aware of the matter.  The declared moratorium was conveyed to India through diplomatic channels last week, the publication further reported.

There is however no mention of this major development in colombo’s leading newspapers Daily Mirror or the Island.

It however remains to be seen whether the Pro Chinese government in Maldives will permit the Chinese spy ships to operate. Bejing has also sought the support of the Indian Ocean island as well to conduct its under-sea research activities. China has also asked the current pro-Beijing Mohammed Muizzu regime in Maldives to let the 4,600-tonne Xiamen-based vessel survey the coast of Male

For the immediate future, it means that Chinese scientific research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3, which was scheduled to conduct "deep water exploration" in the south Indian Ocean from January 5, 2024, to late May, will not be granted a clearance by Sri Lankan authorities.

India and the US last week flagged Colombo entertaining Chinese scientific research vessels and ballistic missile trackers in the Indian Ocean and providing them logistical support.

India had raised objections to the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6 conducting a joint maritime survey with the Sri Lankan maritime agency in October-November, but Colombo allowed the vessel to dock at its seaport later.

The New Delhi based newspaper also cited the instances of at least 25 Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) ships entering the Indian Ocean Region. Since 2019, a total of 48 Chinese scientific research vessels have been deployed in the Indian Ocean Region, the report adds.