Sri Lanka is once again getting involved in a major geopolitical issue over a Chinese marine research vessel that is expected to reach Sri Lanka in October.
India is paying close attention to a new Chinese marine research vessel, Shi Yan 6, which is expected to dock at the Colombo and Hambantota deep sea ports in the Sea of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Navy on Wednesday (16) confirmed that the Shi Yan 6 will reach Sri Lanka on the 25th of October, and will be involved in research operations in the Sea of Sri Lanka for a period of seventeen days.
Sri Lanka Navy said that the Shi Yan 6, Research and Survey Vessel will be reaching Sri Lanka for joint research operations with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, also known as NARA.
However, on Tuesday (15), the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) said the vessels’ arrival is part of an agreement reached with the Ruhuna University of Sri Lanka.
NARA officials said that it would link with the vessel in order to obtain water samples for its own research.
The Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology at the University of Ruhuna said that it had sought permission for its researchers to board the Shi Yan 6, but there has been no response to the request as of Tuesday (15) evening.
This is not the first time that the Shi Yan 6, Research and Survey Vessel will be visiting Sri Lanka.
The Shi Yan 6, Research and Survey Vessel had previously visited Sri Lanka on the 20th of April 2022, and remained in the Sea of Sri Lanka for a total of ten days.
Over a past few years, a large number of vessels had reached Sri Lankan ports, and a majority of them are Chinese research and survey vessels.
These vessels include the Shi Yan 6, Shi Yan 1, Shi Yan 3, Xiang Yang Hong 3, Xiang Yang Hong 18, Xiang Yang Hong 1, Xiang Yang Hong 6, and Xiang Yang Hong 19.
The Shi Yan 6 vessel had left China on July 6, 2023 and as of Tuesday (15) afternoon, the vessel was positioned in the South China Sea some 345 nautical miles away from Vietnam.
However, it had changed course towards China, and had updated its next port of call to Port of Guangzhou.
As of Wednesday (16) evening, the Shi Yan 6 vessel was heading towards the Port of Guangzhou at a speed of 11 nautical miles per hour.
India is paying close attention to a new Chinese marine research vessel, Shi Yan 6, and it is learnt that India has taken up the issue at the highest diplomatic levels.