China ship heading to H'tota reduces speed, course remains unchanged

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Yuan Wang 5, a Chinese vessel used for tracking satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles, remains in the Indian Ocean.

This is despite the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming that it made a request to defer the visit of the Chinese vessel to Hambantota.

India had repeatedly voiced protest against the vessels arrival citing security concerns, and yesterday the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it requested China to defer the visit of the Yuan Wang 5. India also termed the vessel as a Chinese Spy Ship.

It is in this backdrop that Sri Lanka made a request from China to defer the visit of the vessel.

However, on Tuesday the vessel increased its speed and reached a point some 600 nautical miles away from the southern Sri Lankan port of Hambantota.

It is now reported that the vessel abruptly reduced its speed to 5 knots late last night, changing direction towards the Andaman Islands.

However, again this morning the Yuan Wang 5 changed back to its original course.

The vessel that can travel at speeds above any other standard vessel had reduced its speed to 4 Knots.