The Indians, the Chinese and diplomatic power games - EDITORIAL

4 September 2023 12:02 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

In April 2022 our country declared itself bankrupt and informed its international creditors that we would not be able to repay loans as scheduled. In simple language, we were cash-strapped. Sad but true after seventy-five years of independence, we still need to import our staple food, among other essentials to feed our people.

We had to eat humble pie and beg the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a facility to reschedule our debt repayments, and help us out of the mess our political leaders had got this country into.

In the meantime, the country faced rolling 12-hour power cuts, faced shortages of food, medicines, fuel, LP gas and every necessity we needed.
It was in this background, India backed our application for a facility to reschedule debts from the IMF.
Our external debt totalled $35.1 billion at the end of September last year, China was the biggest bilateral creditor, followed by Japan and India. In total, our country owed Chinese lenders $7.4 billion, or nearly a fifth of our public external debt.

India also extended to us a $4bn in emergency assistance credit line at the peak of our financial crisis last year to import basic necessities.
The fact that we have even limited amounts of food on our table today is largely because of the Indian line of credit. This line of credit has also been used to bring down urgently needed supplies of medicines, and purchase of vehicular fuel and LP gas. Within months, the rolling power cuts were reduced and today is a distant memory.

China our biggest creditor, on the other hand, offered us a new loan’ to repay the first loan. However to please other international creditors and make our application for an IMF facility possible, China subsequently agreed to reschedule its loan repayments even though such a system is not common to the Chinese.
Unfortunately for us (Lanka) India and China - both of whom have helped our country out at different times - are oft times at odds with each other. It is in this background we have to navigate a course between the two powers, and it is in this light we have to view the latest crisis in which we as a country are caught up in.

A Chinese ocean research naval vessel Shi Yan 6 is scheduled to dock in our harbour. Our giant neighbour India has raised objections to the entry of this vessel, claiming it has a capacity of gathering intelligence and as such poses a threat to India’s security.
China on the other hand insists the vessel is on a mere ocean research mission and poses no threat to the security of other countries.
What is sad however, is that India despite knowing Lanka’s delicate situation because of our economic plight and indebted situation expects this country to deny the Chinese vessel entry into our ports.

This is not the first time India has made such demands from the Sri Lankan government. Earlier this year, another Chinese research vessel too called at our ports and India protested the visit on the same grounds.
However, the country’s present leadership was able to navigate these troubled waters successfully at that time. We are hopeful that the country’s leadership will be able to ride through the present crisis without treading on the corns of either Chinese or Indian toes as the goodwill of both countries are important to us.
It is well known China has ‘eyes in the sky’ via its satellite surveillance.

The fact of the matter is that China, the US and Russia all have this capacity (eyes in the sky) and do not need to be physically in the vicinity to check out troop movements, or weapons systems as they can track them via their satellites. and India knows this.
On the other hand, it is possible this is China’s way to needle India which seems to be moving closer to the US and the Western bloc.
Whatever the reason, it appears both countries are attempting to use Lanka as a football in their power games.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 8

Punchi Monday, 04 September 2023 06:47 AM

It is more accurate to have ground and surface intelligence gathering devices, that is why at every naval exercise by QUAD, AKUS etc the Chinese send intelligence gathering and communications monitoring ships to the location. It is also in our nature to undermine and belittle our good friends and dally with those who can be dangerous and have not contributed to significantly alleviating our pressing immediate issues. Phillipines under former Phillipines president Duarte dallied with China and critical of US now Phillipines whose islands 200 km from Phillipines and 800 km from Chinese mainland that China is claiming has realised and soliciting Australia and US and participated in island recovering recent Naval exercises in Australia. I think our psyche leads us to be happy to be slaves to China as opposed to being a junior partner with India

THE TRUTH N V, Monday, 04 September 2023 07:28 AM

RUSIA AND UKRAINE, NORTH KOREA AND SOUTH KOREA, CHINA AND THAIVAN, INDIA AND LANKA. ALMOST ALL IDENTICAL GEOPOLITICS.

Punchi Monday, 04 September 2023 11:13 AM

China is always trying to obtain on ground intelligence read ‘ Sept 3 (Reuters) - Chinese nationals, sometimes posing as tourists, have accessed military bases and sensitive sites in the U.S. as many as 100 times in recent years, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing U.S. officials who described the incidents as potential espionage threats.’

Champika Munidasa Monday, 04 September 2023 12:16 PM

Sri Lanka is sandwiched between the two giant power players of our neighbours – India and China. Sri Lanka is the cat’s paw due to her economic vulnerability. The superpowers have no mercy, they continue to exploit our country so that they can exercise the power struggle. It is clear they don’t want us to be independent or self-sufficient. They thrive on our dependency for our basics from abroad. Beggars can’t be choosers. We are compelled to dance to their tune. Our lawmakers are the chief culprits for this situation.

N V Jen Monday, 04 September 2023 08:05 PM

True that Sri Lanka is under pressure from both sides. But look at the plight of certain African countries that are under the stranglehold of China due to the Debt trap. Further the Chinese funded economically unviable projects during Rajapakse regime which benefitted from the kick backs immensely. These projects are giving meagre returns, hence country is struggling to service or pay back the debt. Finally, its wise to consider the concerns of the giant neighbour next door as well as to hang on to them to get economic benefits from their phenomenal growth since of late.

Kumara Monday, 04 September 2023 08:06 PM

First unite the Sri Lankan ethnic races and share power with them. No external powers can exploit you.

karu Monday, 04 September 2023 09:07 PM

join BRICS, then all in same family.

vithura Tuesday, 05 September 2023 03:03 PM

C Munidasa# not sure what geographical map you use to make the claim that Sri Lanka is sandwiched between India and China. Not just by distance, but also by culture, beliefs and their respective governance systems, China is the polar opposite of Sri Lanka. It is the misguided belief on the part of post independent leaders of the so called 'socialist' Sri Lanka, that drew the country into the ambit of China like an insect getting trapped into a spider's web. All the braggadocious claims by our politicians of potential economic benefits from such a relationship has been anything but real. We are a nation that is historically, culturally, linguistically, ethnically aligned to the proximus democratic country and the largest market of the world, that is India. Just as our past, the our future too will be shaped by the prospects of India's future.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

The Indians, the Chinese and diplomatic power games - EDITORIAL

Comments - 8

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Racism, body-shaming fly high with Air Belgium crew against SriLankan staff

Sri Lanka face unusual dilemma

Diana under immigration radar for overstaying visa since 2014

Supreme Court rules Diana Gamage ineligible for parliamentary seat

Sri Lanka to overhaul visa issuance process

On-arrival visa fiasco drains VFS Global’s confidence in Sri Lanka

MIRROR CRICKET

Athapaththu climbs T20I rankings after stellar performance

Shanto to lead Bangladesh’s squad for T20 World Cup

Wanuja helps Sri Lanka ‘A’ to come out on top

Big names miss out as Netherlands announce squad for T20 World Cup

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Philanthropist Nahil Wijesuriya donates Rs. 270Mn for construction of Bishop’s College New A-Level and O-Level building

Temperatures to drop as monsoon arrives: Met. Dept

Facebook party raided inside Knuckles Reserve, over 20 arrested

I hear that MPs’ vehicle permits have been approved: Chandima

Athapaththu climbs T20I rankings after stellar performance

Shanto to lead Bangladesh’s squad for T20 World Cup

Wellalage inclusion hints Three-Spin Attack in World Cup

Wanuja helps Sri Lanka ‘A’ to come out on top