People welcome China's space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 at Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, Aug. 16, 2022. China's space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 has docked at Sri Lanka's Hambantota International Port for replenishment purposes. Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, Sri Lankan government officials and representatives of Chinese enterprises greeted the ship at the pier on Tuesday.(Photo: Xinhua)

Approving a foreign vessel's port call at Hambantota or any other port for replenishment is a decision for the Sri Lankan government and is completely within its sovereignty, and all the scientific research activities of the "Yuan Wang 5" comply with international law and common international practice, said Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong, after the research vessel arrived at the Sri Lankan port last week. 

In an article published on August 26, Ambassador Qi wrote that external obstruction based on so called "security concerns" but without any evidence from certain forces represents interference in Sri Lanka's sovereignty and independence.

The vessel was originally scheduled to dock at the port of Hambantota on August 11, but India has continuously pressured Sri Lanka to defer the arrival of the Chinese vessel, citing so-called national security concerns.

The ambassador wrote that with China and Sri Lanka's joint efforts, the incident was resolved, and this not only safeguarded Sri Lanka's sovereignty and independence, but also defended international fairness and justice.

The port call made by Yuan Wang 5 is not the first time that a Chinese vessel of this kind has visited Sri Lanka. In 2014, a Chinese vessel of the same type, Shi Yan 1, visited Colombo.

The ambassador noted that Sri Lanka has overcome aggression from its northern neighbor 17 times, as well as colonization by the West in previous centuries, and it is now still standing in the world bravely and proudly.

China has always been supporting Sri Lanka in its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and will continue to do that, Qi said, noting that China's action is in contrast with some countries that always make various groundless excuses to bully Sri Lanka.