Despite research ban, Chinese navy tall ship docks in Sri Lanka

A Chinese naval sailing ship was granted permission to dock in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, but Colombo’s new government clarified that a ban on foreign research vessels is still in effect.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the Po Lang, a triple-masted tall ship with a crew of 130, was allowed to dock in Colombo because it is considered “a training vessel and not a research craft.”

“There is no change in the policy regarding research vessels,” AFP quoted Herath as saying to reporters.

Regional power India is suspicious of China’s presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, which are strategically placed halfway along key east-west international shipping routes.

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Colombo’s navy said the Chinese crew would stay until Friday, visiting “tourist attractions of the country” as well as offering “briefings” to Sri Lanka sailors.

Sri Lanka refused permission for China’s Xiang Yang Hong 3 research ship to enter its waters in February, with the craft later moving to the neighbouring Maldives.

Earlier port calls from the Chinese navy since 2022 had raised objections from India.

That included the ship Yuan Wang 5, which specialises in spacecraft tracking, and which New Delhi described as a spy ship.

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With inputs from agencies