China slams US Ambassador in Colombo over criticism of Beijing policy

The Chinese Embassy in Colombo has slammed US Ambassador here Julie Chung over her comments in an interview with the BBC. The Chinese Embassy has questioned the US policy vis-a-vis Sri Lanka struggling to overcome an unprecedented economic crisis.

The following is the text of the Chinese Embassy statement:

“‘China, China, China!’, our US colleague starts chanting this infamous mantra and blaming China as a ‘spoiler’ to the island’s negotiation with the IMF during her recent interview with a UK television programme, on Sri Lanka’s debt issue. Before her baseless accusations and lecturing, our US colleague should have at least asked herself: Who is the single largest shareholder of the IMF, with a veto power over major policy decisions? Who is keep printing the US dollar, with more than $3 trillion in 2020 alone? Who are those private creditors owning 40% of Sri Lanka’s total external debt stock, with the highest interest rates? Who sued Sri Lanka, in its federal court, immediately after the island’s default?

“The public may also like to know how the US has walked the talk to help the Sri Lankan people when they have already received 10,000 MT of rice, 9,000 litres of diesel, LKR 5 billion worth of medicines and 3 million metres of school uniform material gifted by China. They may also question what are the political pre-conditions of US Aid, while being assured by China’s ‘No strings attached, commitment and practice.

“Isn’t it hypocrisy at its finest for our US colleague to play the blame game instead of a self-examination? After all, why didn’t the US take decisive actions in the IMF for a more comfortable solution for Sri Lanka or extend grant to the island with the rocket amount of US dollars they print every year, instead of sowing discord between China and Sri Lanka? Both Chinese and Sri Lankan people are wise enough to judge, without any foreign lecturing, who is the spoiler of our development.”