Beware! China’s subtle tactics

This is what Ted Bauman, a Senior Research Analyst at Banyan Hill had to say in Forbes magazine about Chinese present in Africa: “As a South African, I have seen China’s activities on the continent up close. It is clear that China’s primary goal with foreign investments is geopolitical, not economic. The most consequent investments are undertaken by state-owned companies, not by Chinese private capital. They tend to focus on infrastructures, like Highways, Ports and Dams and on public networks like the electricity grid. These investments help to bind countries to China, politically and through debt obligations. It creates a form of leverage that China can use to force these countries to support Chinese ambitions, globally. In some cases, such as the Anglian Oil sector or Congolese rare earth mining, Chinese investments help lock-in supply relationships with essential commodities. Meanwhile, Chinese boats are reaching West Africa, sweeping the sea of any kind of fish that tries to swim through the spread nets.

“On the surface, these projects seem to serve the quest of African Nations to build sound infrastructure. But on close examination, they serve China’s ambition to write the rule of the next stage of globalization. China wants to use Africa as a location to secure maritime roads [and the OBOR projects] that facilitates China exports as evident by Beijing’s military presence in Djibouti”.

Against the background of these observations by Ted Bauman, one can see the extent to which China has manipulated Sri Lanka to achieve its goals. China has undertaken work on highways, expressways, ports, bought lands, and now irrigation, where Chinese started dredging Tissa Wewa amidst protests from the Department of Archaeology.

China is persistently trying to enter the electricity sector, a vital utility, by requesting a joint venture to operate the fourth additional plant at Norochcholai, which the CEB engineers, vehemently oppose. It is hoped that the Minister concerned will not give in to any pressure. China unhesitatingly funds unproductive projects, the names of which are well known, making the country poorer. India, our closest neighbour, is also concerned about China gaining a foothold here, and so are other countries in South East Asia, including Japan. Hence it is left for Sri Lanka to steer clear and avoid major clashes.

G. A. D. SIRIMAL Boralesgamuwa