Sri Lanka Permits Chinese Navy Training Ship To Dock Despite Existing Ban

Sri Lanka has allowed a Chinese naval sailing ship, the Po Lang, to dock in Colombo, despite an existing ban on foreign research vessels.

The ban remains in effect, according to the current government, which clarified that the Po Lang is categorized as a training vessel rather than a research vessel.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said that the Chinese ship, which has three masts and a crew of 130, was allowed into Sri Lankan waters for this reason. He added that there has been “no change in the policy regarding research vessels.”

India is concerned about the presence of Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean, especially because of China’s influence in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, both of which are strategically located along major shipping routes.

Per Colombo’s navy, the Chinese crew will be in Sri Lanka until October 11, during which they will explore local tourist attractions and brief Sri Lankan sailors.

Earlier this year, Sri Lanka denied entry to China’s Xiang Yang Hong 3 research vessel, which later moved to the Maldives.

India’s concerns about Chinese naval visits have intensified since 2022, particularly with the arrival of the Yuan Wang 5, a ship known for spacecraft tracking that India classified as a spy vessel.

References: FirstPost, Scmp

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