Speaking at a press event in Bangkok, India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar on Wednesday, August 17 said that India is monitoring developments in Sri Lanka.

What happens in our neighborhood, any development which have a bearing on our security We are monitoring it very very carefully,”

S. Jaishankar

Reacting to docking of the Chinese vessel, News Cuuter was able to independently verify that India has increased its maritime surveillance at Rameswaram by placing more number of Navy personnels. Helicopters are seen to be surveilling its southern borders of the Indian ocean bordering north of Sri Lanka and its southern borders.

Yuan Wang 5, a vessel belonging to the fifth generation of the Yuan Wang series was docked at the Hambatota Port, yesterday. The vessel itself has four powerful antennas that help the ship track ballistics including missiles and satellites.

On a strategic note, India, on its Independence day—August 15, handed a Dornier Reconnaissance aircraft to Sri Lanka to help the country strenghthen its maritime surveillance based on a request that Sri Lanka made in 2018.

The Yuang Wang 5 was expected to reach the island-nation on August 11 and was supposed to stay untill 17. However, Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) had requested China to defer the visit and no reasons were given by the MFA for placing a request as such.

The MFA, however made a U-turn and changed its decision granting the vessel diplomatic clearances to make a port call. The ship will continue to stay in Sri Lanka from August 16 to 22, said the MFA in a press release.

India on the other continued to show displeasure in Sri Lanka’s decision on both occasions and views the move by China as a desperate attempt causing threat to India’s national security.