<p>China has proposed setting up of a radar base in Sri Lanka, aiming to counter India's naval presence and strategic oversight in the Indian Ocean region, a report has claimed. The proposed radar base will focus on monitoring the activities of the Indian Navy while also evaluating New Delhi's strategic assets in the region, Economic Times reported.</p>

<p>The paper reported that&nbsp;Aerospace Information Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the likely&nbsp;agency which is&nbsp;steering this project in the forests of Dondra Bay, Sri Lanka, about 155 km southeast of Colombo.</p>

<p>The proposed radar will have the capability to track US military movements at its military base in Diego Garcia, an island of the British Indian Ocean Territory, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, located over 1700 km southwest of Dondra Bay.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sanctions-reagan-library-stations-warship-aircraft-near-taiwan-after-tsai-mccarthy-meet-580207">China sanctions Reagan library, stations warship, aircraft near Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meet</a></strong></p>

<p>The report, while citing people familiar with the developments related to Chinese proposal, said that the radar set-up, if successfully established by Beijing, would be detrimental to Indian military installations as they will be in the range of the proposed radar. The proposed Chinese oversight installation in Sri Lanka is likely to have the range as far as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to its east.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka steps up rations for underprivileged families</strong></p>

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<p>Sri Lanka remains&nbsp;vulnerable to Chinese designs in the region because of the Chinese debt owed to the country. Dondra Bay is located at the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka. It forms a significant part of Sri Lanka's history.</p>

<p>India has been concerned about Chinese activities in Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>Last year, Chinese surveillance vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at the Hambantota Port after the Sri Lankan government conceded to the Chinese request despite Indian warnings. Sri Lanka allowed the vessel to dock at Hambantota and remain for six days for refuelling and logistics supplies.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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China has proposed setting up of a radar base in Sri Lanka, aiming to counter India's naval presence and strategic oversight in the Indian Ocean region, a report has claimed.

China has proposed setting up of a radar base in Sri Lanka, aiming to counter India's naval presence and strategic oversight in the Indian Ocean region, a report has claimed. The proposed radar base will focus on monitoring the activities of the Indian Navy while also evaluating New Delhi's strategic assets in the region, Economic Times reported. The paper reported that Aerospace Information Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the likely agency which is steering this project in the forests of Dondra Bay, Sri Lanka, about 155 km southeast of Colombo. The proposed radar will have the capability to track US military movements at its military base in Diego Garcia, an island of the British Indian Ocean Territory, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, located over 1700 km southwest of Dondra Bay. ALSO READ | China sanctions Reagan library, stations warship, aircraft near Taiwan after Tsai-McCarthy meet The report, while citing people familiar with the developments related to Chinese proposal, said that the radar set-up, if successfully established by Beijing, would be detrimental to Indian military installations as they will be in the range of the proposed radar. The proposed Chinese oversight installation in Sri Lanka is likely to have the range as far as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to its east. ALSO WATCH | Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka steps up rations for underprivileged families × Sri Lanka remains vulnerable to Chinese designs in the region because of the Chinese debt owed to the country. Dondra Bay is located at the southernmost tip of Sri Lanka. It forms a significant part of Sri Lanka's history. India has been concerned about Chinese activities in Sri Lanka. Last year, Chinese surveillance vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked at the Hambantota Port after the Sri Lankan government conceded to the Chinese request despite Indian warnings. Sri Lanka allowed the vessel to dock at Hambantota and remain for six days for refuelling and logistics supplies. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China plans setting up radar base in Sri Lanka, to track India’s naval assets, US military movement

<p>In recent years, China has cultivated a wide variety of political allies in Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>In a video conference organised by China in June, various representatives of Sri Lanka's major political parties participated&nbsp;such as&nbsp;People's Front, United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party and People's United Front of Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>On the face of it, the&nbsp;meeting was to discuss the coronavirus&nbsp;outbreak and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, one report stated that China was using this opportunity to cultivate a "bipartisan bond".</p>

<p>Allegedly, China has commissioned local pollsters to gauge voter sentiment, because China has invested billions of dollars in it.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-using-buddhist-clergy-and-leaders-to-compromise-sri-lanka-elections-317068"><strong>Also read|&nbsp;China using Buddhist clergy and leaders to compromise Sri Lanka elections</strong></a></p>

<p>Sri Lanka has an external debt of $55 billion, and China accounts for 10 per cent of that debt. Until last year, it has invested $11 billion into Sri Lanka, out of which $8&nbsp;billion was just for the BRI. These investments in Sri Lanka are rapidly growing.</p>

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<p>In northern Sri Lanka, China has begun investing in rubber and team coconut cultivation. Both governments are reportedly discussing investment worth $30-40 million in the plantation industry.</p>

<p>Chinese money is now reaching the grassroots of the Sri Lankan economy, and other investing countries are losing their opportunities. The Quad nations such as the US, Japan and India haven't been able to get their projects off the ground.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tried-to-steal-vaccine-research-from-us-university-investigators-316899"><strong>Also read|&nbsp;China tried to steal vaccine research from US university: Investigators</strong></a></p>

<p>Within months, the Sri Lankan government has sent mixed signals over two multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects.The first being the elevated light railway system which was to be built by Japan. It was supposed to pass through parts of greater Colombo. However, the Sri Lankan government has put this project on hold.</p>

<p>The second project is the Colombo port project under which an expanded container terminal was to be built by Japan and India in partnership&nbsp;with Sri Lanka getting the majority ownership. However, the&nbsp;project has still not received a green light from the local government who&nbsp;apparently&nbsp;are hoping for a better deal.</p>

<p>Around 30 trade unions and employees of the Sri Lankan ports authority had gone on strike over the&nbsp;dea demanding the deal to be scrapped. However, the&nbsp;strike was called off.</p>

<p>Interestingly, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority is General R. M. Daya Ratnayake, a man appointed by the President and&nbsp;someone who has served as a post-war army chief.</p>

<p>The US, too, is facing something similar. American government&nbsp;offered a $480 million grant to Sri Lanka, which could be refused by the Sri Lankan government. Mahinda Rajapaksa had opposed the grant from America while his party was in opposition.</p>

<p>A committee was set up to look into it, who opposed the agreement, in their report to the President.</p>

<p>The Rajapaksas reportedly left the decision to his cabinet. Now, with the elections soon approaching, the views of the&nbsp;cabinet won't matter.</p>

<p>So, while India, Japan and the US are still unsure about their projects, China is the only country that has had all its projects approved in Sri Lanka.</p>


In recent years, China has cultivated a wide variety of political allies in Sri Lanka. In a video conference organised by China in June, various representatives of Sri Lanka's major political parties participated such as People's Front, United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party and People's United Front of Sri Lanka.

In recent years, China has cultivated a wide variety of political allies in Sri Lanka. In a video conference organised by China in June, various representatives of Sri Lanka's major political parties participated such as People's Front, United National Party, Sri Lanka Freedom Party and People's United Front of Sri Lanka. On the face of it, the meeting was to discuss the coronavirus outbreak and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, one report stated that China was using this opportunity to cultivate a "bipartisan bond". Allegedly, China has commissioned local pollsters to gauge voter sentiment, because China has invested billions of dollars in it. Also read| China using Buddhist clergy and leaders to compromise Sri Lanka elections Sri Lanka has an external debt of $55 billion, and China accounts for 10 per cent of that debt. Until last year, it has invested $11 billion into Sri Lanka, out of which $8 billion was just for the BRI. These investments in Sri Lanka are rapidly growing. × In northern Sri Lanka, China has begun investing in rubber and team coconut cultivation. Both governments are reportedly discussing investment worth $30-40 million in the plantation industry. Chinese money is now reaching the grassroots of the Sri Lankan economy, and other investing countries are losing their opportunities. The Quad nations such as the US, Japan and India haven't been able to get their projects off the ground. Also read| China tried to steal vaccine research from US university: Investigators Within months, the Sri Lankan government has sent mixed signals over two multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects.The first being the elevated light railway system which was to be built by Japan. It was supposed to pass through parts of greater Colombo. However, the Sri Lankan government has put this project on hold. The second project is the Colombo port project under which an expanded container terminal was to be built by Japan and India in partnership with Sri Lanka getting the majority ownership. However, the project has still not received a green light from the local government who apparently are hoping for a better deal. Around 30 trade unions and employees of the Sri Lankan ports authority had gone on strike over the dea demanding the deal to be scrapped. However, the strike was called off. Interestingly, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority is General R. M. Daya Ratnayake, a man appointed by the President and someone who has served as a post-war army chief. The US, too, is facing something similar. American government offered a $480 million grant to Sri Lanka, which could be refused by the Sri Lankan government. Mahinda Rajapaksa had opposed the grant from America while his party was in opposition. A committee was set up to look into it, who opposed the agreement, in their report to the President. The Rajapaksas reportedly left the decision to his cabinet. Now, with the elections soon approaching, the views of the cabinet won't matter. So, while India, Japan and the US are still unsure about their projects, China is the only country that has had all its projects approved in Sri Lanka.

How China is safeguarding its interests in Sri Lanka

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China plans setting up radar base in Sri Lanka, to track India’s naval assets, US military movement

How China is safeguarding its interests in Sri Lanka