India, China Ministers At Summit As Chinese Survey Ship Heads To Sri Lanka
NDTV
China has not officially commented on the ship's visit and the matter has not gained traction in Chinese media.
Indian and Chinese foreign ministers were to attend a regional conference in Uzbekistan on Friday, a day after New Delhi expressed concern over a Chinese survey ship's planned visit to a strategic port in Sri Lanka.
New Delhi worries that the Chinese-built and leased Hambantota port will be used by China as a military base in India's backyard. The $1.5 billion port is near the main shipping route from Asia to Europe.
Shipping data from Refinitiv Eikon showed research and survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 was en route to Hambantota and was expected to arrive on August 11, at a time when Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis in seven decades. New Delhi has provided Colombo nearly $4 billion in support this year alone.
During a weekly briefing late on Thursday, foreign ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said the government was monitoring the planned visit of the Chinese ship, adding that New Delhi would protect its security and economic interests.
