A Chinese research and survey ship is due to dock in the Chinese-run Hambantota Port in southern Sri Lanka on August 11, leading India to closely monitor the situation. Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry media spokesman Colonel Nalin Herath said Sri Lanka understands India's concern as the ship is capable of monitoring military installations, but it's a routine exercise.
"Naval ships from India, China Russia, Japan and Malaysia from time to time have requested, and so we have granted permission to China. Only when there is a nuclear-capable ship coming our way we can deny access. This is not a nuclear-capable kind of ship," said Colonel Herath, adding China informed Sri Lanka they are sending the ship for surveillance and navigation in the Indian Ocean.
The Chinese ship, Yuan Wang 5, has requested Sri Lanka permission for replenishment. The buffer time for docking is from August 11 to 17. "China informed us that they are sending their ship for surveillance and navigation in the Indian Ocean," Colonel Hearth said.
