China and Sri Lanka> Ilangamuwa and Pilger

Many analysts and other concerned parties in diplomacy and international relations have started vowel war against the Chinese influence in the island nation Sri Lanka in recent past. One of many laughable factors of this highly motivated drama is those who clapped and appreciated China during the previous government, led by the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who went home two years prior to the completion of his term due to attachment to power, turned into harsh critiques of Chinese diplomacy with the current government.

Chinaphobiac statements by Indian, Japanese even some segments of the United States is a matter in conflict of interest, but how should Sri Lanka have to look at this? Sri Lanka as a debtor with huge amount of foreign debt, neither party is less important than the other, but the nation has the need to better articulated strategical approach to keep all of them in good relationships while protecting its own fundamental rights and market value of not only the ground but also the whole area of maritime. This will not be given priority in any agenda if the country’s economy is handled by a person who is smart in boasting nonsenses, but defaces in action based on acccountability and transparency.

There is however, no doubt that  the present ruling collation led by the President Maithripala Sirisena, is maintaining an “unclear policy” on China, but managing the situation without hurting each other, though Chinese envoy in Colombo is keeping a poker mood towards the government while in public domain. At the same time, some of the interested parties were in panic and tried to portrait the situation as alarming to the neighboring countries and other competitors.

However, the influence of Chinese policies is not new or limited to Sri Lanka. In fact, Chinese policies in restructuring many jurisdictions are moving faster than any other nation on the planet. Some called it “China debt trapped policy” while others may call it “Chinese colonization”, the diplomacy of the Chinese way of the ruling power has entered a new era, in which many corrupted policy makers in low-income countries are trying to find shelters under the Chinese umbrella. This has been earned nothing but addled reputation to Chinese policy. Mere investments and influencing the targeted countries by using most of corrupted subjects around the world may not last long and it will never win the heart and mind of the general public – which is made up of individuals with their own beliefs.

As far as the ground reality in Sri Lanka is concerned, it is delusional if someone urged Sri Lanka to sideline China. In fact, Chinese policies have been embedded into the local system over long period. To China, Sri Lanka is much more than a strategic island nation in the Indian Ocean to enhance its own power balance. Both parties “desire” lying with greater degree of responsibility.

Notwithstanding all this, China is facing two major challenges in its market economy. First is the authenticity of the local production as the rights of intellectual property has been evaporated.  Second, the most corrupted “policy makers” in many low income countries become trustworthy allies of China when it comes to investments. These major obstacles are producing bad taste in the system resulting in losing public trust.

But, China is taking “necessary steps” to sharpen its production and strengthen its reputation, though annulment of  labour rights and environmental issues such as air pollution, which Slavoj Žižek, a Slovenian philosopher and psychoanalyst termed as “airpocalypse”, are on high ground under the Communist Party rule. Those fundamental issues are creating the havoc. Those bottom lines are no longer isolated problems.

However, Chinaphobia is not the panacea to the very problems in the country, but it could give a chance to reengineer the diplomacy in bilateral and multilateral relationships. China is one on top of the list. Sri Lanka needs China, but how we need and what Sri Lanka can achieve in long term is the most important question.

You Decide!