China to resume maritime research after Sri Lanka’s one-year ban
By Shihar Aneez
COLOMBO — China is planning to start its maritime research in the Indian Ocean, a top Beijing government official said. The temporary one-year ban imposed due to strong Indian protests will end in January 2025.
Sri Lanka’s previous government imposed a temporary one-year ban on all foreign vessels visiting Sri Lanka for research purposes. The move came in December last year after strong security concerns raised by India on Chinese research vessels.
Qin Boyong, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) discussed the plans to resume maritime research when she met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday (18).
During the meeting, President Dissanayake highlighted the importance of completing the unfinished sections of the Central Expressway under Chinese management and expressed hopes the commencement of supply hubs and institutional projects centred on the Colombo Port City and Hambantota District would be expedited, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement.
It quoted Qin Boyong as saying there were plans to restart maritime research activities, which were temporarily halted for various reasons, along with initiating relevant projects.
“Furthermore, she mentioned that Chinese companies intend to establish themselves in the Hambantota investment zone, aiming to provide Sri Lanka with better global access,” it said, adding that Boyong had also revealed that preparations were underway to welcome President Anura Kumara Dissanayake China on his official visit to China shortly.
China’s comments on resuming maritime research activities in the Indian Ocean come two days after the Indian government expressed confidence in Sri Lanka of giving due care to the security concerns over the visits of Chinese research vessels.
Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri on Monday (16) said India’s understanding was that the Sri Lanka government was looking at the issue, where there were several considerations Sri Lanka needs to take into account, He also said India has highlighted their perspectives including the role the country plays in maritime security, maritime research.
The Foreign Secretary’s comments came during a media briefing after Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a three-day official visit.
President Dissanayake has ensured that Sri Lanka’s territory will not be used in a way that might impact India’s security.
Sri Lanka temporarily banned foreign research ships citing it wants to establish a SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for all such vessels before removing the ban. However, Sri Lanka’s officials at the foreign ministry said there was no such SOP established.
Two Chinese research ships were allowed to dock in Sri Lanka ports within 14 months through October 2023 with one calling for replenishment and the other for research purposes.
In August 2022, Chinese navy vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka for replenishment.
Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6 arrived in Sri Lanka in October 2023 and docked at Colombo port, for what Beijing cited was for “geophysical scientific research” in collaboration with the island nation’s National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).
Both drew strong Indian protests citing security concerns in the Indian Ocean.
India uses the Colombo port as its main transhipment hub and accounts for around 70% of the total transhipment volume of the port.
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