Sri Lanka denies rumours of a potential Chinese base on its soil - but receives more military equipment

by Rukshana
Mar 15, 2024

Responding to a US intelligence report, which maintains that China may seek to establish a military presence on Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's Defence Minister, Premitha Bandara Tennakoon dismissed the claims and told reporters that they have been no discussion "with any foreign government including China for a possible establishment of a military base here in Sri Lanka”.

The statement follows reporting that China has considered establishing a radar base on Dondra Bay, in Sri Lanka's southern most tip, to monitor the Indian Navy as well as UK-US installations on Diego Garcia.

"The US intelligence report on the possible establishment of a Chinese military base in Sri Lanka is inaccurate; we vehemently deny these claims," State Defence Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon claimed.

The US report, issued as part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's (ODNI) annual assessment this week, listed Sri Lanka amongst a number of countries that China may consider establishing a military facility on to project its power and protect its interests. 

"Beyond developing its military base in Djibouti and its military facility at ream Naval Base in Cambodia, Beijing reportedly is considering military facilities in multiple locations, including - but not limited to Burma, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania and the UAE" the report reads.

Tennakoon slammed the report stating:

"The US intelligence report on the possible establishment of a Chinese military base in Sri Lanka is inaccurate; we vehemently deny these claims".

Sri Lanka tops this list of eight international ports where China is most likely to build its next offshore military base according to a report published in July 2023 a report, titled “Harboring Global Ambitions: China’s Ports Footprint and Implications for Future Overseas Naval Bases,” written by researchers at the AidData lab at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. 

To come up with the shortlist, researchers assessed 78 international harbours in 46 countries that are most likely to harbour ships from the PLA Navy’s fleet of approximately 500 vessels, the largest navy in the world. In August, the Chinese surveillance vessel Yuan Wang 5 docked for six days at the port of Hambantota for logistical and supply operations, despite Indian warnings to Sri Lanka. Since then, India has increased its monitoring of Chinese movements in the region.

Despite the Sri Lankan minister's rebuttal,  Sri Lanka has been pursuing deeper ties with Beijing. Recently a Chinese military delegation led by Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, paid an official visit to the School of Signals on 8 March 2024. Following a brief training session a discussion was held, focusing on potential collaboration opportunities for the advancement of the school with inputs from the Chinese Army.

Meanwhile, the China Global Television Network confirmed in an article that the Chinese People's Liberation Army delegation has recently visited Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, the details of which were published by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. During this diplomatic visit, from 4-13 March, the delegation reportedly met with the President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu and discussed defence officials from all three countries to discuss regional security, developing bilateral military ties and issues of common concern.

In a testament to the announcement, China also recently gifted Sri Lanka a stock of special Explosive Ordnance Disposal Equipment under the Chinese Military Grant scheme. Eighteen REOD 4000 Explosive Ordnance Disposal medium robots, eighteen REOD 400 Explosive Ordnance Disposal robots, ten Anti Explosive Blankets and ten Explotion Protection Tanks and Vehicles were symbolically handed over to the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Kamal Gunaratne. 

“Soon after, the gathering of Senior Officers and invitees had a close look at those new equipment which will be of much use to the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka,” a communique on the defence ministry website noted. 

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