According to the port company, a Chinese military survey ship that moored at Sri Lanka's Chinese-built port of Hambantota amid resistance from neighbouring India withdrew on Monday after a week-long visit.
According to analysts, the Yuan Wang 5 is one of several Chinese ships that monitor satellite, rocket, and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. India, Sri Lanka's northern neighbor, is concerned that China would use the port as a military base.
Sri Lanka, which is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades and requires financial assistance from both China and India, delayed the ship's arrival when India raised concerns, but subsequently caved to Chinese demands.
The ship has now left the southern Sri Lankan port, said the Hambantota International Port Group, a partnership between Sri Lanka’s government and China Merchants Port Holdings.
The ship’s next destination was not immediately known.
The Pentagon says the Yuan Wang ships are operated by the Strategic Support Force of the People’s Liberation Army.
Yuan Wang 5 Captain Zhang Hongwang said last week that the ship’s visit would “deepen the exchange between China and Sri Lanka in the field of space science and technology and promote the common progress of the space industry of the two countries”.
China says the Hambantota port, leased by China Merchants in 2017 for 99 years, is a key part of its Belt and Road initiative linking infrastructure projects in various countries.