BEIJING: On August 22, the Chinese research vessel Yuan Wang 5 departed from Hambantota port in Sri Lanka, causing diplomatic ramifications across the Indian Ocean.
According to China's official media Science and Technology Daily, the ship departed China on July 12 to conduct routine tracking missions to support the launch of Wentian, a vital part of China's space station.
Following the successful launch of Ventian on 24 July, the ship was scheduled to dock at Hambantota on 11 August – a port call that had previously been postponed due to concerns, notably by Sri Lanka's largest neighbor India. were expressed.

At a crucial moment when India is testing several new indigenously developed missiles, the ship docked. On 5 August, the Indian Defense Ministry reported that several locally produced, laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles had hit the target.

The Yuan Wang 5 is primarily a satellite tracking vessel, but may also be capable of collecting missile launch telemetry data. Jane's principal defense analyst Rizwan Rahmat suggested that India may be concerned that the Chinese ship would be able to gather information from such tests.

Due to the Sri Lankan government's announcement that it would not allow such travel in late July as it was grappling with a serious domestic crisis, the docking arrangement may have appeared a mystery. However, experts say that regardless of any secret talks between China and Sri Lanka, it completely explains how the neighbors distrust China's technological progress.
Rajiv Ranjan Chaturvedi, an associate professor of international relations at Nalanda University in India, claims that the reservation is mainly due to the controversial dual-use features of the Yuan Wang 5.
The Chinese military uses this surveillance ship to monitor satellites and space activities. According to Chaturvedi, the voyage of this sophisticated space and satellite vessel was a cause for concern, due to its sophisticated features for gathering sensitive information.

The primary purpose of Yuan Wang 5 is to support China's manned space program, lunar and Mars exploration, and the development of the Beidou navigation satellite system.
According to Xinhua, the ship has completed more than 80 sea tracking missions over the past 15 years, traveling more than 570,000 nautical miles and docking at several international ports.
In July 2013, it performed tracking duties for the rendezvous of the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft and the Tiangong-1 space laboratory before docking at Indonesia's Tanjung Priak port for seven days to replenish supplies and maintain equipment. followed.

The ship regularly serves to support China's space exploration program, but the possibility that it may have additional roles and functions has raised questions.
A US Defense Department report released last year described the ship as capable of carrying out cyber, electronic, information, communications and psychological warfare missions.
According to Timothy Heath, a senior analyst at the think tank RAND, countries distrust Chinese ships for the same reason they distrust Chinese tech companies such as Huawei Technologies Co. or port construction companies: because they are "citizens" despite being national. Can do security work. "Platform and Business.

“China prefers dual-use ships, platforms and capabilities because they enable China to conduct intelligence and defense-related operations covertly. China needs this because it lacks military posts overseas where it Can openly conduct defense operations. China can carry out defense missions without the need for military bases, using dual-use capabilities in "civilian" ports, Heath said.

This uncovers another Chinese development puzzle. China's Belt and Road Initiative, which has helped revive some European ports such as Greece's Piraeus, has drawn skepticism and sharp criticism for its expansion of ports around the world.
An example is the port of Hambantota, where Yuan Wang 5 is currently berthed.
Hambantota, which was signed by the previous Sri Lankan administration in 2017 to pay off its debt to China, has come under close international scrutiny amid claims that Beijing is trying to gain geopolitical clout through "debt trap diplomacy". "Using.

In the vicinity of India, China is building port infrastructure and logistics support facilities, which are more driven by strategic considerations. According to Chaturvedi, the visit of Yuan Wang 5 also reflects the growing strategic reach of China.

Since the US has foreign military bases and allies who know the US will conduct defense, military and intelligence missions in their countries, Heath, the world's leading technological power, claimed it did not have a problem.
"Due to the apparent nature of the US presence, dual use is not a concern. However, the US must deal with the politics surrounding its military presence and surveillance.

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