In a strong message to China and the Maldives, Sri Lanka, which expelled a Chinese spy vessel that is now heading to Male, has accorded a ceremonial welcome to Indian Navy submarine INS Karanj at the Colombo Port before its Independence Day.
Sri Lanka celebrated its Independence Day on 4 February and INS Karanj, a diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy, will depart from Colombo Port on 5 February.
Diplomatic Win For India
INS Karanj docked at the Colombo Port ahead of the arrival of China’s People Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s ‘research vessel’, Xiang Yang Hong 3, in Malé on 8 February.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s government on 23 January accepted China’s diplomatic request to allow the ‘research vessel’ to dock at the main port in Malé, disregarding India’s security concerns.
The Sri Lankan government by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recently decided not to allow China’s research vessels to dock at Sri Lankan ports or operate in the exclusive economic zone of the country for a year.
Allowing INS Karanj to dock in Sri Lanka aims at signifying India’s role as the primary security provider in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) as well as sending a strong message to the Chinese PLA Navy which has recently increased its activities in the maritime neighborhood of India.
Why is INS Karanj Docking in Sri Lanka the News?
INS Karanj’s port call to Colombo comes at a time when Sri Lanka is sitting on the tip of IOR, putting a year-long moratorium on foreign research vessels from operating in its waters.
The moratorium, which began on 1 January, is seen as a major diplomatic and strategic win for India that warned about the Chinese spy vessels surveying the vast regions of the IOR under the pretext of carrying out scientific tests.
Chinese submarines, navigating in the shallow waters of Malacca Strait and through the East IOR, have been gathering data that is invaluable for them, and this has been causing a lot of amazement for India.
Through its ‘research vessels,’ the Chinese PLA Navy carried out hydrographic surveys, charted underwater paths for its submarines as well as monitored missiles or satellites test-fired from the locations in the vicinity. It also keeps a watch on military installations in nearby countries.
Sri Lanka has been under pressure from China since Beijing acquired the lease of Hambantota Port for 99 years. The island nation gave Beijing a port right under India’s nose after it failed to pay the Chinese firms.
The situation in the IOR is getting tricky, as the Maldives’ new President Mohamed Muizzu has been opposing India and his government allowing the same Chinese spy vessel, denied permission by Sri Lanka, to dock at Malé.
India has been wary that China could use its ballistic missile trackers and research surveillance ships, allowed by Sri Lanka or Maldives, for spying in the name of marine exploration.
India is also concerned over the possibility of China building an ocean observatory at Makunudhoo in the Maldives.
What Indian Navy Submarine is Doing in Sri Lanka?
In Sri Lanka, INS Karanj participated in a submarine awareness program. According to the announcement by the Sri Lankan Navy, the Indian Navy Submarine crew also were expected to explore tourist attractions in the country.
INS Karanj is a Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine based on the French Scorpene class submarines. It is designed by the French naval group DCNS and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.
As per reports, around 100 nominated personnel of the Sri Lankan Navy were briefed about the submarine onboard. The commanding officer called on Rear Admiral Saman Perera, the Commander of the Western Naval Area of the Sri Lankan Navy.
India’s envoy to Colombo, Santosh Jha, also visited the submarine and interacted with the commanding officer, Commander Arunabh, and his crew.
With inputs from agencies
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Sri Lanka expels Chinese spy ship, welcomes Indian Navy Submarine INS Karanj on its Independence Day
