Reacting to Sri Lanka's request to defer the docking of a hi-tech Chinese vessel, China on Monday in a veiled dig at India said it was "senseless to pressure" Colombo by citing security concerns.
New Delhi had reportedly raised 'national security threat' concerns to Colombo as it protested the arrival of Chinese ship which is learnt to have the capability to track satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing fully respects the jurisdiction of coastal states for the scientific exploration activities within their waters.
Its spokesperson Wang Wenbin said his country urges relevant parties to see China’s scientific explorations in a reasonable and sensible way, and stop disturbing the normal exchange between Biejing and Colombo.
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MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had earlier asserted that India was aware of reports of a proposed visit by a Chinese vessel to Sri Lanka's Hambantota port, adding that it would take all steps to safeguard its security and economic interests.
Several Sri Lankan media reports suggest that their President Ranil Wickremesinghe held a closed-door meeting with China's Ambassador Qi Zhenhong after Colombo sought the deferment of the planned docking.
The Chinese space and satellite tracking research vessel 'Yuan Wang 5' was scheduled to dock at the Hambantota Port from August 11 to 17.