China research ship requests Sri Lanka port call
China has requested permission for its research ship, the Shi Yan 6, to dock in Sri Lanka. The request is being processed, according to Sri Lankan officials. This comes after India raised security concerns over a Chinese research vessel's port call in Sri Lanka last year. India is wary of China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in Sri Lanka, which it sees as its own sphere of influence. Sri Lanka, which is strategically located along key shipping routes, relies on China's support to restructure its foreign loans.
