CHINA’ S MOD US OPERANDI TO DOMINATE ASIAN REGION AS FEARED BY SOME?

China employs own men when undertaking projects China’s labour force is disciplined and devoted They do not reveal technical know-how as all manuals are in Chinese Future commitments with China, or any other country should be with utmost care

In a previous article titled “Has Kenya Too Fallen for China’s Debt Trap?” I have highlighted the challenges faced with China centric development projects. It was in hope of opening the eyes of those in developing countries, especially those in the South Asian region who intend to obtain loans from China, of whose hidden modus operandi is to gain dominance in the Asian region under the guise of helping these countries to develop.

Unlike other international lending agencies such as the International Monetary Fund [IMF] World Bank [WB] Asian Development Bank [ADB] and Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA], China does not look into the financial viability and whether the country could repay the loan. This is to their advantage as when a country fails or is unable to repay the loan, invariably the project is sold or allowed to operate as a Build, Operate and Own (BOO) project. This is exactly what has happened to Kenya where it is set to lose Mombasa Port and Zambia its airport. In Sri Lanka, the Mattala Airport, Sports stadium at Weerawila, Hambantota Port and the precious six-acre land at Galle Face former Sri Lanka Army HQ and an island in Maldives as reported.

The other advantage is that when a project is undertaken on the loan granted by them, they employ their own men, labourer up to the top positions, materials and machinery, thus providing employment to their own men by paying themselves from the loan granted. Of course they could be excused for employing their own labour as they are highly disciplined and devoted, whereas ours would require two or more men to do the same job and stoppages of work, strikes demanding certain rights and privileges, invariably backed by politicians, hampering and delaying completion of the project. There is more to such funding in its execution. Here is my experience and knowledge gained when in service at the Ministry of Power and Energy, on the loan taken to construct the Coal Power Project at Norochcholai. The total cost of the project was around US$ 1,500 million, inclusive of local funding as well.

Sri Lanka government was facing a severe energy crisis, mainly due to lack of national interest by our politicians who precipitated this energy crisis due to frivolous objections, and the usual practice of calling for worldwide tenders was not possible as the time taken to call for tenders, evaluate, etc. takes a few years. Hence assistance was sought from countries. At this juncture, China offered the loan and also to undertake the construction of the project, inclusive of the plant. The drama starts from here. China engaged its labour and machinery, thus providing employment for its own men from labourers upwards to engineers and consultants, as stated earlier. The machinery required, from concrete mixers, cranes etc were brought from China, thus providing funds for their manufacturing industry. No expenditure was incurred on local labour and materials. Thus, the entire loan, plus the local funds went back to China, leaving us to repay the loan with interest, What of the quality of work? The first plant of 300 MW was said to be a refurbished one which gave enough hiccups.

The Chinese, I believe, kept secret certain technical know-how and our engineers found it difficult as the manuals were in Chinese. When the plant was constantly giving trouble, the Chinese offered to run the plant, which would have meant, selling electricity to us and the money so earned would have been sent to China. Fortunately, for the then Minister for Power and Energy, Patali Champika Ranawaka on the advice of CEB engineers, this request was not acceded to. If allowed, we would have been at their mercy. The hideousness of our politicians, religious prelates of all faiths, is that they cry foul for interference by outsiders and international organisations, when they themselves are to be blamed for creating such a situation for outsiders to interfere in.

If worldwide tenders were called we would have had a modern plant, perhaps from Japan who would have engaged only top engineers and consultants and employed local labour and material, with on-the-job training of local staff to run the plant efficiently.

It is hoped that future commitments with China, or any other country should be with utmost care, long term planning, go through proper procedure, in doing a feasibility study, evaluation and economic benefits, then call for worldwide tenders giving enough time to study the offers before awarding. Unfortunately, this procedure is not followed as politicians, who have self-interest rather than the country, interfere.

The author declares the above are his personal observations, assumptions and inferences which

may or may not be accepted.

When the plant was constantly giving trouble, the Chinese offered to run the plant, which would have meant, selling electricity to us and the money so earned would have been sent to China. Fortunately, for the then Minister for Power and Energy, Patali Champika Ranawaka on the advice of CEB engineers this request was not acceded to