Senseless: Beijing attacks India over opposition of Chinese ship visiting Sri Lankan port

Beijing, Aug 9: In a veiled attack on India, China described India’s opposition to the docking of a Chinese ship at a Sri Lankan port as "senseless". It said that “relevant” countries should stop disturbing normal exchanges between Beijing and Colombo.

 

China’s Yuan Wang 5, a space and satellite tracking vessel, was allowed by Colombo last month to dock at the southern Sri Lankan port of Hambantota between August 11 and 17. However, it raised security concerns for New Delhi in the Indian Ocean.

 

Reports suggested that due to India’s concerns, Sri Lanka had asked Beijing to defer the arrival of the ship. Responding to the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said on Monday that Beijing had taken note of the reports and asserted that “the cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is independently chosen by the two countries and meets common interests. It does not target any third party”.

 

Further, he said, "It is completely unjustified for certain countries to cite the so-called “security concerns” to pressure Sri Lanka. As Sri Lanka grapples with economic and political difficulties, to grossly interfere in Sri Lanka’s normal exchange and cooperation with other countries is to exploit its vulnerability, which is morally irresponsible and against the basic norms governing international relations."

 

"We urge the relevant parties to see China’s marine scientific research activities in a rational light and stop disrupting normal exchange and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka," he concluded.