Chinese officials have shown displeasure to Sri Lanka over the one-year ban on research vessels carrying out any surveys within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to Sri Lankan sources. Sri Lanka decided on the ban in December 2023 due to receiving pressure from both India and the United States over allowing Chinese research vessels to dock in the country.
This decision also means that Chinese vessels are not permitted to enter Sri Lanka’s territorial waters starting January 3rd, 2024.
In July 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to be considerate of India’s concerns over safety and security, resulting in the Chinese vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 not being allowed to dock in Colombo last month.
