Over 19 Chinese research ships reached Sri Lanka in recent times

COLOMBO (News 1st); India is paying close attention to a new Chinese marine research vessel, Shi Yan 6, which is expected to dock at the Colombo and Hambantota deep sea ports in the Sea of Sri Lanka.

The Shi Yan 6 will reach Sri Lanka on the 25th of October, and will be involved in research operations in the southern area of the  Sea of Sri Lanka for a period of seventeen days. 

Over the years, over 19 state-of-the-art Chinese Research/Survey vessels reached the Sea of Sri Lanka.

The People's Liberation Army Navy vessel Qian Sanqiang visited Sri Lanka on the 2nd of Feburary 2017 and remained in Sri Lankan waters for four days. 

The Xiang Yang Hong 3 had visited Sri Lanka for the first time on the 13th of December 2017, and remained in Colombo and Trincomalee for a period of 18 days.

The Xiang Yang Hong 3 returned to Sri Lanka on the 22nd of December 2019 and remained in Sri Lankan waters until the 5th of January 2020. 

The Xiang Yang Hong 18 reached Sri Lanka on the 6th of January 2018 and remained in Sri Lankan waters for four days.

The Shi Yan 3 Secinetific Research Vessel first reached Sri Lanka on the 20th of April 2018 and remained in Sri Lankan waters for four days.

Thereafter, the Shi Yan 3 once again returned to Sri Lanka on the 15th of May 2020, and remained in Sri Lankan waters for seven days.

The People's Liberation Army Navy vessel Qiang Weichang - a Naval Integrated Research Vessel reached Sri Lanka on the 8th of August 2019 and remained in Sri Lankan waters for three days.

The Xiang Yang Hong 1 Scientific Research Vessel reached Sri Lanka on the 11th of April 2019 and remained until the 15th of April 2019.

The People's Liberation Army Navy vessel, the Zhu Ke Zhen - an Integrated Research Vessel - reached Sri Lanka on the 14th November 2019 and remained in Sri Lankan waters for five days. 

The Xiang Yang Hong 6 Scientific Research Vessel reached Sri Lanka on the 27th of December 2019 and remained in Sri Lankan waters until the 17th of January 2020.

The Xiang Yang Hong 19 Scientific Research Vessel reached Sri Lankan waters on the 11th of February 2020 and was anchored for nine days. 

The Shi Yan 1 Scientific Research Vessel reached Sri Lanka on the 11th of April 2020.

The Hai CE 3301 Scientific Research Vessel reached Sri Lanka three times.

The first was on the 8th of January 2021, and then returned on the 8th of December 2021 and remained for 14 days in Sri Lankan Water.

The Hai CE 3301 thereafter again returned to Sri Lanka on the 5th of January 2022 and was anchored for 11 days.

The Shi Yan 6 which is expected to dock in Sri Lanka on the 25th of October, previously visited Sri Lanka on the 20th of April 2022 and remained in Sri Lankan waters for 10 days.

The Shi Yan 6 vessel had left China on July 6, 2023 and as of Tuesday (15) afternoon, the vessel was positioned in the South China Sea some 345 nautical miles away from Vietnam.

However, it had changed course towards China, and had updated its next port of call to Port of Guangzhou. 

Though it was expected to reach the port on Thursday (17) it was positioned some 60 nautical miles away from the Port of Guangzhou. 

In 2022, the Chinese Research and Survey Vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at the Hambantota Port, and this port call led to much controversy in the region. 

At the same time, information has come to light with regard to an agreement that had been signed with regard to Chinese Naval activities in Sri Lankan water.

This agreement had been inked on the 5th of July 2019 between the South China Sea Institute Of Oceanology and Sri Lanka's  National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA).

The agreement was signed for the monitoring of sea levels, tides and weather patterns.

The agreement includes the establishment of a center to monitor the sea levels in Dikowita, and Dondra Head.

It also includes the positioning of buoys in the seas off Tangalle.

In addition, it includes the establishment of a data collection center for tides, seas level, and weather patterns.

The agreement notes that the data will ONLY be exchanged between the two said agencies, and cannot be released to a third party.