Beijing: China have found a new issue to spar with India.
India had opposed docking of a Chinese ship at a Sri Lankan port, following which Colombo had asked Beijing to defer its arrival.
Reacting to Sri Lanka’s response, China on Monday said “relevant” countries should stop disturbing normal exchanges between Beijing and Colombo.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that Beijing had taken note of reports and asserted that “cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is independently chosen by the two countries and meets common interests. It does not target any third party.”
Sri Lankan government last month allowed China’s Yuan Wang 5, a space and satellite tracking vessel, to dock at Hambantota port between August 11 and 17.
It raised security concerns in New Delhi, and the Indian government promptly conveyed its feelings to Sri Lanka.
Observing that Sri Lanka is a “sovereign state” and can “develop relations with other countries in the light of its own development interests,” China said it was “senseless to pressure Sri Lanka” by citing security concerns.
“China urges relevant parties to see China’s scientific explorations in a reasonable and sensible way and stop disturbing the normal exchange between China and Sri Lanka,” Wang said, obviously referring to India.
Wang pointed out that many scientific exploration ships, including those from China, have stopped at Sri Lankan ports for resupplies.
“China has always exercised the freedom of navigation in the high seas and fully respects and fully respects the jurisdiction of coastal states of the scientific exploration activities within their jurisdiction waters,” Wang said.
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