Sri Lanka, the Indian Ocean and the China Factor

Sri Lanka, China maritime infastructure

HANSANI SAMPATHIII SEMESTERMARITIME SECURITY

Sri Lanka is unique geographical location on Silk Road

Historyprince Vijaya, the legendary founder of the Sinhala race, and his followers came from across the seas (543505 BCE)Traders from distant lands, Rome, Greece, Persia, Arabia, India, Sri Vijaya and China, followed the trade winds to Lanka in search of its fabled spices, precious stones and elephantsTwo millennia ago Lanka, proudly independent, was the thriving hub of the southern Silk RouteBuddhism came to the island from across the seas. Later Lanka was to become the centre of the SouthernWhile trade and Buddhism clearly made Sri Lanka a destination for traders and Buddhists of many nations,

China Sri lanka maritime relationBefore colonization (Till 1605) After colonization (1953 -2009 )After 2009

Till 1605

The maritime links with China were established in the early part of the first millennium and they have been mutually beneficial This period sri lanka china relations was very good A number of Chinese Buddhist monks visited the islandFa Xian and Xuanzang came to Lanka in the fifth and sixth centuriesFa Xian travelled back to China on a ship carrying 200 passengersKing Parakramabahu sent a royal princess to China. he considered a relationship sealed by marriage to the Chinese royal family an advantage to LankaMarco Polo visited Sri Lanka during one of his missions on behalf of the Mongol emperor. The Chinese Admiral, Cheng He, visited Lanka, during his many epic voyages starting in 1409, as he sailed to Africa and beyond. He also took with him to China, a local prince, Alakeshwera.

1953-2009

Before this period dominated the world by European colonial powers, relations between China and Sri period Lanka almost disappeared. But they were revived soon after Sri Lanka gained its independence

In 1953 Sri Lanka went against the international political tide when it concluded the Rubber-Rice pact with a China constrained by sanctions.

the links between the two countries have been consolidated further with Premier Zhou Enlai visiting the island in 1957

In the 70s, China studied the Colombo Export Processing Zone before launching its spectacularly successful Shenzhen Special Economic ZoneSri lanka ethnic cricis main arms exporter

China National Electronics Import Export Corp provided Sri Lanka at a cost of $5 million

After 2009 A twenty-five year civilwarin Sri Lankacame to a close in May2009This period sri lanka china relation has improved. Reasons Sri lankan government needed to assistance for the reconciliation program Idea of maritime HUB China s concept of string of pearlsChina s expectation for permanent membership of SAARCChinas political (hexiao kongdo ) strategy

Sri lankan government needed to assistance for the reconciliation programWhy China?China's initiative on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has attracted support from 57 key countries, including Australia, the UK, Germany, France, Sri Lanka, etc. Singapore maintains close ties with China while continuing effective relations with the West.soit was so easy to get assistances from. China. Mahinda Rajapakshe periodChina also provided diplomatic support for Sri Lanka at the UN human rights resolution.

Concept of Sri lanka as a maritime HUB

The Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa had a policy of developing Sri Lanka as a regional maritime hub providing port facilities to the large bulk careers plying between East Asia and the West and the tankers carrying energy supplies from the Middle East. What is the maritime hub?A hub as defined in the Oxford dictionary is The center of an activity or region. Obviously then, a maritime Hub would then be the center or the focal point of maritime activities.

Colombo Port Container mega-hubHambantota Port Free Port Service: Industrial and Multi-purpose Galle Port Cruise Shipping centreTrincomalee Port Port-related Indus-tries Oluvil Port Commercial and Fisheries PortKankasanthurai and Point Pedro Regional PortsHigh way road systemColombo port cityMattala Air portThe Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT), which is 85 percent owned by the state-run China Merchant Holdings Internationasri lanka has developed it maritime infrastructure under the Chinese assistance

Colombo Port

Hambanthota PortPhase I of Hambantota Port cost an estimated US$ 361 million with 85 per cent being met by Exim Bank of China. Phase II is priced at an estimated US$ 808 million and is a 100 per cent loan.

Mattala Air port

Sothern High way

Chinas concept of string of pearls

String of Pearls is widely used to describe Chinas purported plan to establish naval bases and intelligence stations throughout South Asia. Adherents of this perspective argue Beijing has spent the past decade trying to forge closer diplomatic relations with many Indian Ocean nations. China has signed multimillion dollar aid, trade and defense deals in capitals across the region, while Chinese state-owned corporations have financed commercial ports in Pakistan (Gwadar), Sri Lanka (Hambantota and Colombo), Bangladesh (Chittagong) and Burma (Sittwe and Kyaukpyu).(2005 Booz-Allen report)

Chinas (hexiao kongdo) strategycooperating with small countries to counter their competitor

China has used these fissures in the bilateral relationship to systematically to undermine Indias overwhelming political, strategic and commercial influence in Sri Lanka.

conclusion sri lanka has benefited in many way by Chinas strategic clout

Many of Chinese assisted projects on maritime endeavors provide legitimate access to Chinese specialist personnel.

Chinas soft power is increasingly visible in all aspects of Sri Lanka society political, diplomatic, and development fronts as well

http://www.defseminar.lk/medicentre/pres/Dr%20Wang%20Weihua%20.doc.pdfhttp://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-10/28/c_133749164.htmAmal Jayasinghe (August 4, 2013)."Sri Lanka eyes South Asian hub with Chinese mega port".Fox News. Retrieved2 August2013.rchive.indianexpress.com/news/china-to-train-sri-lankan-army-to-provide-military-technology/1123290/http://www.ceylontoday.lk/51-68802-news-detail-chinese-aircraft-maintenance-centre-in-trinco.htmlhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Sri-Lanka-snubs-India-opens-port-to-Chinese-submarine-again/articleshow/45008757.cms