New Delhi : The strategic developments in the Indian Ocean have been a cause of concern for India and New Delhi has been conveying it to Sri Lanka and Maldives. The cause of concern is no other than China which wants to increase its presence and control in the Indian Ocean region. Sri Lanka has now understood the dragon’s strategy and perhaps why it has imposed a one-year ban on China’s ‘research ships’. Now in the name of research, no Chinese ship can enter the Exclusive Economic Zone of Sri Lanka. India has expressed concerns that Chinese research ships could be used by Beijing to track the Indian Army’s defence positions and conduct surveys in strategically important waters. In July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to respect India’s strategic and security concerns. A few days later, on January 5, China’s research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 was about to begin deep-sea exploration in the South Indian Ocean, but Sri Lankan authorities refused to grant permission. This is a big blow for China because, after the Hambantota loan episode, it has not been able to woo the current leadership of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe also visited Beijing in October but he did not fall into the trap of China. Hambantota Port belongs to Sri Lanka but by trapping it in debt, China has taken control of its operation for many decades.
While Sri Lanka’s decision to ban Chinese ships is a relief for India, New Delhi is yet to get things right with its other neighbour Maldives which is siding towards China. China has also asked the Maldives government to allow its 4,600-ton survey vessel to anchor off the Male coast. However, India and America have expressed concerns about the Chinese research ship asking the concerned nations not to provide any kind of support to Chinese ships and ballistic missile trackers in the Indian Ocean region.
Bureau Report
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