Cooperation needed in Sri Lanka B4-5
▶ China seeks pragmatic relationship with India, not strategic competition
China and India should focus on pragmatic cooperation in Sri Lanka for the shared interest of all three countries, as the small South Asian nation goes through a political transition, rather than engage in strategic competition over influence in the South Asian island country, Chinese analysts said on Monday.
With the ongoing political crisis in Sri Lanka continuing to unfold following President Maithripala Sirisena’s dissolution of the cabinet on Saturday and the swearing in of former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister, who some consider “pro-China,” some Indian and Western media reports have been driving a narrative that pitches India against China in a fight for influence in Sri Lanka.
But analysts said that such rhetoric is based on a misunderstanding of China’s relationship with Sri Lanka and is counterproductive to the situation in Sri Lanka as well as the relationship between China and India, which has warmed up in recent months.
After long political turmoil, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday removed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapakse as the new prime minister, a move that continues to draw criticism from India and some Western countries.
At a press briefing in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang called on all sides in Sri Lanka to resolve their differences through talks and said that China was closely following the situation in Sri Lanka.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a statement on Sunday, saying that India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka and hopes that “democratic values and constitutional process will be respected.”
“As any leader would do, Rajapakse would do what is right for the people of Sri Lanka, and maintaining balanced relations with China and India is in the interests of Sri Lanka.”
Liu Xiaoxue
Associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ National Institute of International Strategy
However, some Indian and Western media renewed earlier accusations that Chinese investment infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka has led the country deep into debt and that China is gaining influence in the country at the expense of India. A Reuters report on Sunday, citing Wickremesing he supporters, even suggested that China y was behind the political crisis Sri Lanka. Chinese analysts dismissed such accusations as baseless and counter productive to efforts to enhance ties among the three countries It's has
become a pattern for some foreign media and officials to blame China whenever there is a political or economic crisis in a country that China has a relationship with or has cooperated with. it isboth irresponsible and counter productive,” said Qian Feng, a research fellow at the National Strategy Institute of Tsinghua University based in Beijing.
Qian told the Global Times that, contrary to what some media reports suggest, China is not seeking to push India out of Sri Lanka and there is a lot of room for China and India to cooperate in Sri Lanka.
“India has huge influence in Sri Lanka both politically and culturally that will not change because of China’s investment. There is no need for India to worry about Chinese investment. Instead, it should look for ways to participate,” he added.
Liu Xiaoxue, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ National Institute of International Strategy, also said that the notion that Rajapakse would move the country away from India toward China once he becomes prime minister is “preposterous.”
“As any leader would do, Rajapakse would do what is right for the people of Sri Lanka, and maintaining balanced relations with China and India is in the interests of Sri Lanka,” Liu told the Global Times.
Liu also pointed out that there are opportunities for India and China to seek pragmatic economic cooperation in Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries, noting that India is already in talks with Sri Lanka to take a stake in an airport near the Hambantota port, which was largely funded and constructed by Chinese companies. “This could be a model for future cooperation between China and India, if they focus on cooperation rather than competition,” she said.
Political tension in Sri Lanka could lead to closer ties between the island country and China “at a time when India is engaged in a grueling race for influence with China in the neighborhood,” the Hindustan Times in India wrote in an editorial on Monday.
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena sacked the prime minister and replaced him with ex-president Mahinda Rajapakse. It is understandable India may worry about the return of Rajapakse, because Sri Lanka actually allowed China to invest heavily in developing its infrastructure under Rajapakse’s rule.
Sri Lanka has been an important stop on the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative. China is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and development in Sri Lanka, and Rajapakse’s return may increase Chinese investors’ enthusiasm for these projects.
Although India has a certain influence on the island country, New Delhi can’t persuade Sri Lanka to refuse Chinese investment. If India wants to do something to maintain its presence there, the best way is to work with China together in Sri Lanka.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently agreed with Chinese leaders to step up cooperation in infrastructure projects in third-party markets amid thawing diplomatic ties.
Multilateral collaboration has become a trend for many countries to pursue infrastructure projects in overseas markets. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Japan is a good opportunity to get an idea of the advantages of multilateral collaboration.
Multilateral collaboration among China, India and Sri Lanka to renew infrastructure in the island country is worth consideration, at a time when Indian society worries Rajapakse’s return could lead to closer China-Sri Lanka ties and reduce the influence of New Delhi on Sri Lanka. The return of Rajapakse may fuel competition between China and India in the Indian Ocean, but multilateral collaboration can avoid the situation.
China is fairly experienced in financing and developing infrastructure in areas such as roads, railways and ports, which can perhaps be used as a reference for speeding up construction in Sri Lanka.
Multilateral collaboration with Chinese companies can help Indian firms gain experience in infrastructure construction. India is in urgent need of upgrading its infrastructure, and that experience may offer the necessary help.