20 December 2024 07:42 am Views - 22
As the new government begins to balance its ties with all foreign nations, it has noticed that two countries who need special attention in their balancing act is India and China.
Both the countries who have shared close diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka for generations, still need to be sensitively handled by Sri Lankan leaders in order to avoid antagonizing one against the other.
The entry of China’s research vessel in Sri Lankan waters have in recent years caused much concern with countries such as USA and China. In fact last year, the Ranil Wickremesinghe administration faced severely strained diplomatic ties with China after it rejected China’s request to allow a research vessel to visit Lankan waters.
However, some weeks later the former government allowed a German research vessel to enter Sri Lankan waters, causing China to lodge a strong protest with the then Foreign Ministry as to why Beijing was rejected and the Germans were allowed.
This incident received wide publicity on Chinese Social Media so much so that Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, in a discussion with journalists in Colombo last month said that the Chinese were disappointed at the former government’s decision. In fact Chinese tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka also dropped over this diplomatic strain with the Ambassador saying that the Chinese people were disappointed at Sri Lanka’s behaviour.
He even went as far as to say that it was obvious on whose instructions Sri Lanka had given into pressure to decline the Chinese research vessel to arrive in Colombo. The Chinese envoy said that Sri Lankan leaders must not bow to international pressure and must maintain an independent foreign policy.
Now with the NPP government in power, they have to act cautiously to ensure that ties between both countries remain at an equal footing.
Last afternoon, Cabinet Spokesperson, Nalinda Jayatissa said that the government would consider any request for foreign research vessels to enter Sri Lankan waters after considering the purpose of the visit and with the assurance of the Security Council.
Dr. Jayatissa told the weekly Cabinet media briefing that the government’s stance is that they will deal with the requests on a case by case basis during relevant times.
“We are dealing with India and China in a diplomatic manner. We are very open. A medical ship with a 200 member crew is visiting Sri Lanka from December 21 to 28, benefitting our health system. We are under no obligation that we must allow them but their visit will benefit us. Whenever any research vessel request arrives, we can study and investigate it and we can negotiate with the relevant parties. We are working with a long term diplomatic vision,” he said.
When asked whether the one year ban on research vessels imposed by the previous government is relaxed, the Minister said the ban was not relaxed but the government will consider the issue one by one and at the relevant time.
“We are considering the matter one by one. We will see the purpose and we can take assurance from the Security Council,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Qin Boyong said during a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Wednesday that there are plans to restart maritime research activities between Sri Lanka and China, which were temporarily halted for various reasons, along with initiating relevant projects.
In an obvious reference to the berthing of Chinese research vessels in the Sri Lankan ports during engagements with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during his visit in New Delhi, India pointed to what it called ‘importance and sensitivity’ of it to its security interests.
Addressing a special press briefing in New Delhi which was live-streamed, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “Our understanding is that Sri Lanka is looking at this issue. There are a number of considerations that they need to take into account. We did highlight from our perspective the role that India could play in a number of activities related to maritime security, research etc. We pointed to the importance and sensitivity of our security interests in this regard.
President Dissanayake was upfront in saying that he would ensure that nothing was done by using Sri Lankan territory that might impact India’s security. “We will continue to engage with Sri Lanka on all these issues,” he said in response to a question.
With the government still only a month old, it is yet to be seen how it will balance both these powerful nations in a fair and diplomatic manner, and not give into pressure by straining ties with either. It is also to be seen if this government will maintain the country’s sovereignty and neutrality with these countries which many other governments failed to do.