An ex-NSA claims that China exploited Sri Lanka as a pawn in a larger game after Beijing criticised India on Yuan Wang 5.

The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka applauded Colombo on Friday for allowing India to object and allowing its espionage ship, Yuan Wang 5, to dock at Hambantota port. India's objection to the ship's docking was also criticised by Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, who saw it as an infringement on Sri Lanka's national sovereignty.

Pankaj Saran, a former deputy national security adviser (NSA), criticised China's ambassador to Sri Lanka on Sunday for equating the Taiwan problem with Lanka and asserted that Beijing has consistently backed Colombo in efforts to defend its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in international fora. The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka thanked Colombo for allowing its espionage ship, Yuan Wang 5, to dock at Hambantota port despite opposition from India in a series of tweets on Friday. As an infringement on Sri Lanka's national sovereignty, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong also criticised India for protesting to the ship's docking.

He claimed that the decision to allow a foreign vessel to dock at Hambantota for replenishment was made by the Sri Lankan government entirely within the bounds of its sovereignty and that any external obstruction based on purported "security concerns" from certain forces amounted to a serious intrusion into Sri Lanka's sovereignty and independence. The next day, India retaliated to Colombo, alleging that his disregard for fundamental diplomatic protocol may be a sign of his character or perhaps the attitude of the entire country.

The Deputy NSA stated today that it is very amazing that China had the face to issue a statement expressing its sympathies with Sri Lanka given the fact that China's actions over the past several years have been primarily to blame for Sri Lanka's economic collapse. "Sri Lanka was exploited by China as a piece in a larger game. As far as India is concerned, we have a long-standing connection with Sri Lanka and we intend to maintain it in the future. Our methods for interacting with our neighbours differ from theirs, "added he.

The Chinese Ambassador had also come under fire from the Indian High Commission in Colombo for his remarks on New Delhi's role. "His perception of Sri Lanka's northern neighbour could be influenced by how his own nation acts. We reassure him that India is totally different. He gave the visit of a supposedly scientific research vessel a geopolitical context, which is obvious "In reference to his remarks on Yuan Wang 5, the Indian High Commission remarked. India responded to Beijing's debt diplomacy by stating that debt-driven objectives and ambiguity are now key obstacles, particularly for smaller countries. The statement read, "Sri Lanka needs assistance, not unwelcome pressure or unneeded disputes to further the interests of another country."