China’s research vessel Shi Yan 6 heads towards Sri Lankan port, raising espionage concerns

Sri Lanka: A Chinese research ship, Shi Yan 6, has sparked controversy as it sails through the Strait of Malacca towards Sri Lanka’s Colombo port. While officially labeled as a research mission in the Indian Ocean region, the ship’s presence has raised suspicions and increased diplomatic tensions, as experts debate its true capabilities and intentions. Shi Yan 6, reportedly on a scientific mission, is en route to Colombo and is expected to reach its destination on October 25. Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed that the ship will engage in research operations for 17 days as part of an agreement. university. The mission is linked to research conducted by the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) of Sri Lanka.

However, the ship’s voyage has been met with skepticism and unease. New Delhi had earlier expressed serious concerns to the Ranil Wickremesinghe government about allowing a Chinese research vessel to dock at a Sri Lankan port. Circumstances surrounding the ship’s prior visit to China in April 2022, during which it stayed for ten days, have further heightened suspicions. The Shadow of Chinese Spy Ships While some experts argue that Shi Yan 6 lacks antennae for satellite and missile tracking, concerns remain over the ship’s sophisticated research equipment and its potential dual-use nature. Indian Navy Commander Surchand Singh told Republic that the technical capabilities on board can be reused for both offensive and defensive activities, especially in areas such as seabed mapping, which could aid submarine deployment in times of conflict. Is.

China’s repeated deployment of spy ships in the Indian Ocean region has increased uneasiness. In April this year, when India conducted missile tests in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Odisha, the Chinese missile and satellite tracking ship Yuan Wang 7 was spotted in the same area. This presence raises questions about the intentions behind China’s maritime activities in the region. Despite India’s concerns, Sri Lanka’s decision to allow surveillance and missile tracker ships to dock at its Colombo and Hambantota ports has added to the complexity of the situation. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal in July to the Sri Lankan government to consider Indian security concerns has had limited impact, as Chinese ships continue to access the port. As Sri Lanka grapples with China’s huge debt, estimated at around $3 billion, diplomatic tensions and concerns over security interests in the Indian Ocean region remain. Shi Yan 6’s mission, shrouded in ambiguity, highlights the challenges of navigating geopolitical waters and balancing international alliances in a region of growing strategic importance.