Sri Lanka, Aug. 10 -- One of the main reasons why Chinese research vessels are in the Indian Ocean is that the ocean currents in the area impact weather patterns in China, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong said on Thursday. He was addressing a group of journalists at the Embassy to brief them on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

He said that these vessels have no intention of spying on India and that they arrive in Sri Lanka for replenishment and to conduct research with Sri Lankan universities.

"Chinese vessels have been conducting research with Sri Lankan institutions for 20 years."

No one objected until quite recently," he said. Perceptions and ideas affect how nations perceive threats...