Chinese research ship docks at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port amid heightened regional tensions

A Chinese research ship, equipped with antennas and communication gear, docked in Sri Lanka on August 16, 2022, despite US and India’s concerns over Chinese activities in the region. New Delhi is suspicious of Beijing’s presence in the Indian Ocean, lodging a complaint with Sri Lanka. The Yuan Wang 5 docked at the Chinese-built Hambantota port, which Colombo leased to Beijing in 2017 for 99 years after defaulting on its debt.