Beijing:

China said on Tuesday that the activities of its high-tech research vessel will not affect any country's security and should not be "disrupted" by any third party.

The ship has reached the Hambantota port of Sri Lanka amid concerns of India and America.

The ship 'Yuan Wang 5', capable of detecting ballistic missiles and satellites, reached the southern port of Hambantota at 8:20 am local time.

It will stay there till August 22. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that 'Yuan Wang 5' has 'successfully' arrived at Hambantota port with 'Sri Lanka's active cooperation'.

Wang appeared to avoid the question of giving financial aid to Sri Lanka, which is going through a severe economic crisis.

When the ship arrived, Qi Zhenhong, the Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka, hosted the reception at the Hambantota port, he said.

China's 'spy' ship reached Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, India is worried due to being equipped with these facilities ..

The Hambantota port was taken over by Beijing in 2017 on a 99-year lease in return for a loan from Sri Lanka.

Clearly alluding to the concerns of India and the US regarding the technology of the ship that arrived in Sri Lankan port, Wang said, "I would like to reiterate that Yuan Wang 5's marine scientific research activities are in accordance with international law and international normal procedure." are in line with.'

"They do not affect the security and economic interests of any country and should not be obstructed by any third party," he said.

Wang said the ceremony was attended by representatives of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as "heads of more than ten parties and friendly communities". 

He said, 'The atmosphere was good during the ceremony.

The national anthems of China and Sri Lanka were played and Sri Lankans performed traditional folk dances on the red carpet.

The Sri Lankan government had asked the Chinese government to delay sending the ship after India and the US expressed concerns about the equipment on board and eventually allowed the ship to stay in port from 16 to 22 August.

According to Chinese official media, the ship, which has a crew of more than 2,000 personnel, has the capability to detect satellites and ballistic missiles.

Sri Lanka said it allowed the ship after extensive deliberations.

Asked whether China would provide much-needed financial aid to Sri Lanka given its crippling economy, Wang said on Tuesday, "We feel the economic and social difficulties, Which Sri Lanka is currently facing.

"For quite some time, we have been providing proactive support to Sri Lanka to overcome difficulties," he said.

This is what we did and will continue to do so.

The Hambantota port has been developed largely on loan from China and is considered strategically important due to its location.

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India has said that it keeps a close watch on any developments affecting its security and economic interests.

New Delhi is concerned over fears that the ship's surveillance system may attempt to spy on Indian installations.

India has traditionally taken a tough stand on Chinese military ships in the Indian Ocean and has lodged a protest with Sri Lanka regarding such visits in the past.

Relations between India and Sri Lanka became strained in 2014 after Colombo allowed a nuclear-powered Chinese submarine to stop at one of its ports. 

India on Friday rejected China's "objection" that New Delhi pressured Colombo against the scheduled visit of the Chinese research ship, but said it would take a decision based on its security concerns.


Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said in New Delhi that Sri Lanka, as a sovereign country, takes its own independent decisions.

He had said that India will decide on the basis of the current situation in the region according to its security concerns, especially in the border areas.



(Except for the headline, this news has not been edited by the NDTV team, it has been published directly from the Syndicate feed.)