Chinese Ship Begins Research Off Sri Lankan Coast Today Amid Security Concerns In India

China’s research vessel dubbed Shi Yan 6, which reached Colombo last week amid the concerns raised by the US and India, is all prepared to start its two-day research off the coast of Sri Lanka today, per Sri Lankan authorities.

The research is going to be pursued off the western coast of Sri Lanka and in association with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (abbreviated the NARA), Sri Lanka, as well as the University of Ruhuna, per a spokesperson associated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Colombo.

When asked about the nature of the research, the spokesperson informed The Hindu that it’s marine scientific research.

Earlier, the Ministry had said that the vessel would be at the Colombo port for “replenishment”.

The research vessel dubbed Shi Yan 6 was reportedly added to the Chinese fleet of marine research vessels in 2020 (December).

It is understood to be the nation’s first-ever scientific research ship that focuses on geophysical explorations.

It is also scheduled to operate at sea for almost 80 days, with 13 expert research teams pursuing 28 scientific research assignments across 12,000 nms, the state-run China Global Television Network reported in September.

India as well as the US had raised their concerns over the vessel’s visit, as these two nations had in the past, regarding the earlier visits of China’s vessels.

Sri Lanka’s media has further reported that the issue came up in discussions conducted by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President, in Beijing earlier in the month.

In September 2023, INS Delhi, India’s first-ever indigenous destroyer reportedly paid a goodwill visit to Sri Lanka.

Last week saw the visit of ROKS Gwanggaeto the Great, which belongs to the Korean Navy.

More recently, a destroyer that belongs to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (abbreviated the JMSDF) dubbed AKEBONO (DD 108) reached the Trincomalee harbor, situated on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka, on its official visit.

Even as India has repeatedly raised its concerns regarding the visit of China’s vessels since 2022, the Sri Lankan authorities have stated that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) could be followed to clear the visits of these foreign vessels.

However, the sources based in Colombo have indicated that the SOP to vet foreign war vessels, aircraft, and Marine Scientific Research (abbreviated MSR) vessels, approved earlier by the Cabinet and later on subject to revisions, is yet to take effect.

Reference- The Hindu

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