News Highlight
India is closely monitoring the movement of a Chinese spy ship that is on its way to Sri Lanka.
Key Takeaways
- A Chinese spy ship to the Lankan port comes at a time when the country is battling a severe economic crisis.
What is this Chinese ship that is heading for Sri Lanka?
- The ‘Yuan Wang 5’, a Chinese research and survey vessel, is en route to Hambantota port.
- This port is a strategically important deep-sea port developed mostly using loans from China.
- ‘Yuan Wang’-class ships are used to track satellite, rocket, and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches.
Why is India concerned about this development?
- The ‘Yuan Wang 5’ is a powerful tracking vessel.
- Its significant aerial reach — reportedly around 750 km — means that several ports in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh could be on China’s radar.
Why is the Hambantota port crucial strategically?
- The Hambantota sits on the route connecting Southeast Asia with Africa and West Asia.
- For China, it is an important step in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- The BRI is a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by the Chinese government.
- Hambantota’s proximity to India has the potential to allow the Chinese navy just the maritime flex aimed at India that it has been seeking for a long time.
The Hambantota Port
- The port is known as the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port.
- It is a maritime inland port located in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
- The port was inaugurated in 2010.
- This port is a deep-water port on the southern tip of Sri Lanka.
Pic Courtesy: The Indian Express
Content Source: The Indian Express.