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A Chinese military ship left Sri Lanka

A Chinese military research ship that sailed into Sri Lanka’s Chinese-built port of Hambadota despite India’s backlash left on Monday after a week there, the port company told Reuters.

Analysts say the Yuan Wang 5 is part of a group of Chinese ships that monitor the launches of satellites, missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles. India, Sri Lanka’s northern neighbor, fears that China could use the port as a military base.

Sri Lanka, which is facing its worst economic crisis in decades and needs financial support from both China and India, had delayed the ship’s arrival after India raised concerns, but later caved in to Chinese demands.

The ship has now sailed from Sri Lanka’s southern port, said Hambantota International Port Group, a joint venture between the Sri Lankan government and China Merchants Port Holdings.

The ship’s next destination was not immediately known.

The Pentagon says the Yuan Wang ships are used by the People’s Liberation Army’s Strategic Support Force.

The captain of the Yuan Wang 5, Zhang Hongwang, said last week that the ship’s visit would “deepen exchanges between China and Sri Lanka in the field of space science and technology and promote the joint progress of the two countries’ space industry “.

China says the Hambadota port, which was leased by China Merchants in 2017 for 99 years, is a key part of its Belt and Road initiative that links infrastructure projects across countries.

Source: Capital

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