Sri Lanka’s ‘stroll’ on the corridors of world power

Despite being tech savvy and possessing an immense labour power China as a nation works hard to elevate itself on the world map of prospering countries

China’s ‘can do attitude’ and ‘speed’ at which it works has impressed Sri Lanka

China’s firm footing in Colombo is now well established under the Rajapaksa regime

According to www.NewsMeter.com name boards which read ‘China Bazaar’ have been changed to ‘Indian Bazaar

As kids we knew of China as a country producing inferior or cheap goods. There was even a joke shared among schoolchildren when one kid had penned in her notebook that the opposite of ‘original’ is ‘Chinese’. That’s the old China we knew of. Fast forward from the past to 2020 and China is contesting against America to establish itself as a global economic power. And the scary part is that China is slowly getting rid of obstacles in its way in pursuing this endeavour. 

Since of late China has stepped up on improving its bilateral ties with Sri Lanka. The Chinese Government maintains that all is well between the two nations. But in reality China’s uneasiness leads to aggression in response to actions or business decisions taken by America and India; especially in connection with countries like Sri Lanka where the Chinese have strategic and development interests. 

Sri Lanka is a small nation, an island and is resourceful hence its people don’t need to import a gamut of items from the world outside. But as other nations point out Sri Lanka can’t isolate itself from the rest of the world. Sri Lanka must open its doors to the outside world to do business and invite investors. Acting Chinese Ambassador Hu Wei said the other day in an interview with the Daily Mirror that ‘Sri Lanka with a unique strategic geopolitical location should adhere to free and open navigation’. 

When we motor on the Colombo roads we see enough of Chinese workers and also Chinese restaurants and local lodges catering to these expatriates. There was a talk at one time that at the rate that the Chinese were landing here there would soon be a Chinese colony. Those who oppose the Chinese presence here only have to step out on to the street and see how many people carry in their hands a Huawei smartphone; one of the best branded phones manufactured using Chinese technology. 

There are many lessons to learn from the Chinese. The country is willing to enter into any business venture when it sees an opportunity open up in the world. Despite being tech savvy and possessing an immense labour power China as a nation works hard to elevate itself on the world map of prospering countries. And the  most important thing about China despite global criticism and opposition is that it maintains focus and knows what it is doing. 
Now the good thing about these qualities of a nation is that one can relate to them without much of an invitation.

One person who might relate to China quite instantly is present president Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Two things associated with the Chinese that can appeal to the incumbent president of Sri Lanka are China’s ‘can do attitude’ and ‘speed’ at which it works. According to newspaper reports ‘in March the Government of Sri Lanka needed some urgent loans to settle external borrowings and fight the present pandemic. The Chinese Development Bank was able to provide a concessionary loan of US$ 500 million within 10 days. 

We all remember the Rubber-Rice Pact between China and Sri Lanka and signed in 1952. From a Chinese perspective Sri Lanka benefitted more in the deal because the islanders were facing a severe economic and agriculture crisis at that time. According to the pact China had agreed to provide rice while Sri Lanka was ready to supply rubber in return. But China may see that India, one of its business rivals, has a longer history with Sri Lanka with roots running deep where ethnic and cultural ties are concerned. The Indian Government’s interests in the Tamil community in general and the efforts taken by the Modi Government to look into the interests of Sri Lankan estate Tamils speak volumes. 

Though Sri Lanka enjoys the luxury of obtaining assistance from the three most powerful nations-India, China and USA-Colombo has come under fire mainly from Beijing for ‘not protecting foreign investment which benefits greatly the country and the people. China-Sri Lanka relations hung by a string during the Yahapalana regime because the then premier Wickremesinghe and former President Sirisena were seen running behind India with much obsession. China on the other hand encourages Sri Lanka to nurture friendships with its neighbours. But it maintains that the Chinese Government is its best friend and partner when it comes to economic cooperation. China’s aggressive business approach in Sri Lanka slowed down somewhat during the Yahapalana regime.

Also China might get first preference when it comes to business deals; especially in the construction business. Right now Chinese companies and financial institutes are well engaged in the Central Expressway project. Also China harps on the fact that it has a stake in the second phase of the Colombo Port City Project- which could cost around US$ 13 billion- and come in the form of an investment. When we see Indian visitors walking on Galle Face and munching on peanuts just a short distance away, at the same location, we see Chinese engineers driving their cars on the new pathway constructed on the land reclamation project; which has expanded Sri Lanka’s land content by eating into the Indian Ocean. China’s firm footing in Colombo is now well established under the Rajapaksa regime. 

Sri Lanka must update itself on the Indo-China tensions; especially the standoff at the Ladakh’s Galwan Valley where as many as 20 Indian soldiers paid with their lives. The repercussion was the Hyderabad General Merchants Association enforcing wholesale and retail shops in the area to boycott Chinese products and also remove Chinese names from businesses and replace them with Indian names. According to www.NewsMeter.com name boards which read ‘China Bazaar’ have been changed to ‘Indian Bazaar’. 

In another part of the world America has imposed sanctions on 24 companies which are involved in building artificial islands in other countries. The USA has always viewed China’s expansionist agenda with growing suspicion. 

However Sri Lanka has pursued business ties with China’s rivals here. USA is working on getting the nod to go ahead with its Millennium Challenge Corporation. India and Japan are partners to a memorandum of cooperation signed with the GoSL in a bid to run the East Container Terminal. 

When the British arrived in Sri Lanka they constructed roads and helped elevate transportation within the country. China has basically the same plan. There is an old Chinese proverb which says, ‘If you want to prosper, first make the road’. This is what China is doing in Sri Lanka and Kenya. China’s Belt and Road and Silk Road initiatives are creating fresh waves regarding transportation. 

But Sri Lanka must be watchful when dealing with China. When expressways are constructed the negative aspects would be that no opportunities would be there to do business with those operating shops on the wayside. Another negative factor to consider when getting into construction projects with China is that the host government can get into debt. 

Also Sri Lanka can’t step aside in the battle for supremacy between China and the US. China has treaded cautiously, but at the same time has managed to peacefully settle border issues-12 out of 14-with other countries. USA on the other hand has used power to hit bach at China or slowdown the East Asian giant’s ‘new long march’. In this contest between power (USA) and patience (China) Sri Lanka has chosen well to place its bets in the latter.