Key Points
- The book “Teardrop Diplomacy: China-Sri Lanka Foray” captures the period from 2019 to 2022, focusing on Sri Lanka’s political and economic crisis and its external challenges in foreign policy and national security concerns.
- Sri Lanka’s political crisis, which emerged in 2019, resulted from the centralization of power by the government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The regime amended the constitution, concentrated executive power, and faced protests demanding system change and an end to corruption and dysfunction.
- The book delves into the geopolitical competition between China and India in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean. It highlights China’s influence in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy, especially during Gotabaya’s tenure, and discusses the “strategic trap” that involves China’s funding to the Rajapaksas’ political party, human rights support, and military assistance.
- Despite Sri Lanka facing financial default, it is unlikely that China will slow down its involvement in the country. Chinese officials frequently visit, and more loans are offered. However, the key is to improve processes and transparency to ensure a sustainable partnership.
- The experience with Chinese investments in Sri Lanka serves as a lesson for other countries, including Pakistan, to exercise caution when dealing with long-term agreements. Prioritizing national security concerns, ensuring transparency, and avoiding unsustainable borrowing is crucial for sustainable development and better partnerships.
Dr. Qamar Cheema recently held an interview with Mr. Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, who is an International Security and Geopolitical Analyst, based in Washington DC, and also an advisor to the IMF. He has recently written a book titled “Teardrop Diplomacy: China-Sri Lanka Foray.”
Dr Qamar Cheema asked Mr. Asanga, what motivated him to write this book and China’s presence has been a significant topic in the West, especially in the US. How does your book shed light on Sri Lanka’s economic turmoil and its relationship with China?
Asanga stated that the book captures the period from 2019 to 2022, during Sri Lanka’s political and economic crisis, and examines the external issues the regime had to face in terms of foreign policy and national security concerns. It also delves into how Sri Lanka perceives the region, India’s foreign policy, and the broader geostrategic landscape in the Pacific and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) strategies. The book highlights how a small nation like Sri Lanka, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, navigates challenges amidst big-power rivalries. He said that I felt the need for such analysis during my work in Washington DC in 2021, where there was a demand to understand how Sri Lanka perceives these power trajectories and its internal dynamics.
Dr Cheema asked him that you have mentioned the political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka, Can you elaborate on the disaster and the factors you’ve written about in your book?
Asanga responded that the political crisis must be understood to comprehend the economic crisis. The book captures the emergence of political dysfunctionality in Sri Lanka in 2019. The government led by Gotabaya Rajapaksa centralized power, leading to a crisis in the society, bureaucracy, and NGOs. The regime amended the constitution, concentrated executive power, and undermined independent institutions. It is the first time that two brothers, Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa, ruled the country, resulting in a family regime extending its power. The heavy militarization of the government sector was also observed, which led to concerns about democratic space and elite capture. The crisis reached a tipping point, leading to protests demanding system change and an end to corruption and political dysfunction.
While discussing the competition between China and India in Sri Lanka Asanga said that the book covers the geopolitical competition between India and China in Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean. For instance, I highlighted the controversial visit of the Chinese spy ship, the Yuan Wang 5, to the Hambantota port. China’s influence in Sri Lanka’s foreign policy was evident, especially during Gotabaya’s tenure when Sri Lanka seemed to bandwagon with China. I coined the term “strategic trap” to analyze China’s involvement, emphasizing the three dimensions of CPC funding to the SLPP (Rajapaksas’ political party), human rights support, and military assistance. India and the US were sensitive to Sri Lanka’s national security implications. It serves as an example for other countries dealing with Chinese investments to carefully consider their long-term strategic vision and enhance transparency in the process.
Responding to the question of Sri Lanka facing financial default, do you think this signals the end of the BRI in Sri Lanka, or will the space for China-Sri Lanka relations shrink Asanga said that despite the financial default and the crisis, it is unlikely that China will slow down its involvement in Sri Lanka. We have seen Chinese officials frequently visiting the country, and more loans are offered instead of focusing on loan restructuring. The key is to improve processes and transparency to avoid repeating mistakes and enhance mutual cooperation between Sri Lanka and China. The Chinese influence in Sri Lanka’s economic and strategic sectors may continue, but it calls for careful navigation and better management to ensure a sustainable partnership.
Dr Cheema asked him what message do you have for Sri Lanka and other countries, especially Pakistan, who might face similar challenges and opportunities in dealing with Chinese investments?
Asanga said that Sri Lanka’s experience with Chinese investments highlights the importance of avoiding unsustainable borrowing and addressing corruption issues. It is a lesson for other countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and others, to learn from Sri Lanka’s mistakes and exercise caution when entering long-term agreements. Countries should have a long-term strategic vision, prioritize national security concerns, and ensure transparency and due diligence in the process of engaging with China. Improved supply chains and open, transparent policies can contribute to better partnerships and sustainable development.