New Silk Road Or New Great Game? India Developing New Sri Lanka Port To Combat China
Posted on April 21st, 2017
Wade Shepard CONTRIBUTOR Courtesy Forbes
As regional powers like China, Russia, Japan, and India vie for political and economic position throughout the eastern realms of Eurasia, many of the less powerful countries caught in the middle are employing what could be called a ‘multi-vector strategy’ as they engage openly with multiple suitors in an attempt to balance out their respective influences — and ultimately bringing in more investment, financing, and development for themselves.
It is a move pioneered, dubbed, and popularized by Kazakhstan — a country which sits right between Russia, China, South Asia, and Europe — in the era following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Rather than being a puppet state of Russia, Kazakhstan began opening itself up to other international powers, bringing in billions in investment and a higher degree of strategic autonomy in the process.
As China advances its program of increased internationalism — as delivered via its Belt and Road initiative — the country has rapidly become a major political and economic power pushing infrastructure development throughout Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. More than any other, this new geopolitical player has shaken up the traditional layout of political and economic alliances, creating the counterbalance necessary for more less powerful countries to employ ‘multi-vector strategies’ of their own.
This resulted in a geopolitical backfire of perhaps unprecedented proportions. Instead of bringing Sri Lanka to submission, the country simply pivoted to China, who was more than willing to help out” the suddenly politically and economically hamstrung nation. In the years that followed, China gave Sri Lanka $37 million in military aid, over $8 billion in loans, and the drive to go ahead with multiple Chinese-led mega-projects, such as Colombo Financial City — a $1.4 billion, 269-hectare new financial center — and the Hambantota developments, which include a giant deep sea port, an international airport, a cricket stadium, a conference hall, and an impending 15,000-acre, million-worker industrial zone, basically turning the country into a Chinese outpost of progress.
This sheer pivot to China made India feel more than a little ill at ease. A rising global economic and military power was suddenly firmly entrenched on their doorstep, and beyond weightless political posturing they really had no answer for it. It soon became clear that if India was to have any real influence on the island nation to the southeast that they were going to have to jump in, show the money, and build something.
Which has led to this:
According to diplomatic sources,” Sri Lanka and India are expected to sign an agreement during PM Narendra Modi’s next visit to Colombo to develop Trincomalee port in the northeast of Sri Lanka.
April 21st, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Inviting Indian snakes to Sri Lanka is no solution. We know what their plan in Trincomalee is. This will be followed by the Monkey bridge to make Sri Lanka part of the despicable Indians. Sinhalese are at threat from all sides; from the minorities – Ceylon Tamils, Indian Tamils and Muslims – Christians who will seek a separate state for themselves in the North Western Province – Illegal immigrants – Kallathonis from South India, Muslim immigrants from Maldives and gods know from where else.
Besides, are their any country in the world that has benefitted from Indian projects such as what they are envisaging in Sri Lank? Wherever China has gone they have carried out projects to help other nations fulfil their national needs as well as opening roads to international exposure. China has been an all weather friend for Sri Lanka whereas India has always been an opportunistic as well as a belligerent big neighbour with illiill towards all her neighbours.
It is now or never to put a stop to this unholy jada palana administration. Mahinda and Gota should give the necessary leadership for there is none other in the horizon who can fill that need, and who has mass appeal. At the moment they are only making feeble protests.
Indians should not get Trinco – period, otherwise it will be the end of Sri Lanka for good. We survived over 3000 years of intermittent onslaughts and invasions from India. This time they are coming for a final fatal blow. No country in the South Asia has developed with Indian assistance. They say ” Beware of Greeks bearing gifts”. This age old adage applies very well to Indians. Let us remember how Indian gifts – Parippu from the skies extended the Tamil Racist Terrorist war to last another two decades. How they prevented us getting arms to fight the terrorist. How they recruited, trained, armed and sent back to Sri Lanka terrorist who carried out mass genocide in various parts of Sri Lanka. No they are not our friends by any stretch of imagination.
They are the big ‘stink’ in the middle and the malevolent power that hinders progress of all her neighbours.