Reports from the Economic Times suggest that China is looking into the possibility of constructing a radar station in the jungles close to Dondra Bay in Sri Lanka.
This would be able to monitor Indian military assets in the south of the country, the Indian Navy’s operations in the Indian Ocean, and the US military activities in Diego Garcia. Furthermore, it could track the Kudankulam and Kalpakkam nuclear power plants.
Dondra Bay is a historically significant area, having once been the capital of Sri Lanka.
The Aerospace Information Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is likely to be involved in this project, which India would view as a threat to its interests in the region.
Last year, a Chinese surveillance vessel was granted permission to dock at Hambantota Port for six days, despite India’s objections. In December 2017, Sri Lanka gave China control of the port in exchange for a share of the debt.
