On Monday, the Yuan Wang 5, a Chinese survey vessel of the latest generation, officially entered Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone or the Sea of Sri Lanka (15).
The Yuan Wang 5 is scheduled to dock at the Hambantota Port at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday (16), where it will remain for seven days for replenishment.
In the midst of controversy, Sri Lanka granted permission for the high-tech Chinese tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 to dock at the Hambantota Port.
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted diplomatic clearance for the Chinese vessel to make a port call at the Hambantota port for replenishment purposes from 11-17 August, 2022; however, due to concerns raised by various factions, including India, the Ministry requested China to postpone the visit of the said vessel to the Hambantota port.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided no explanation for the request.
When the request to postpone the vessel’s visit was made, the Yuan Wang 5 had already set sail for Sri Lanka, leaving its port of origin on July 14th and was already in the Indian Ocean.
Following that, the ship slowed and moved over the Ninety East Ridge, a mid-ocean ridge on the Indian Ocean floor named for its near-parallel strike along the 90th meridian in the centre of the Eastern Hemisphere.
When the Yuan Wang 5 enters the Sea of Sri Lanka on Monday (15) evening, it must comply with the conditions of maintaining its unique vessel identifier and refrain from conducting any type of research or surveillance activity in the Sea of Sri Lanka.
Yuan Wang 5 is a third-generation Yuan Wang Series tracking ship. It has advanced antennas and electronic equipment for tracking ballistic missiles and satellites.
The Chinese Research Vessel fleet consists of two vessels, Yuan Wang 5 and Yuan Wang 6.