In March this year, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Gunawardena paid a goodwill visit to China, and the main purpose of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's visit, in addition to discussing with the Chinese side some cooperation matters between the two countries, one of the most important topics is to hope that the Chinese side can improve Sri Lanka's financial situation and support Sri Lanka's development. Specifically, it is hoped that China will be able to "restructure its debts" on Sri Lanka's debts. As we know, China is Sri Lanka's main creditor, with a loan amount of up to US$3.4 billion, and in response to Sri Lanka's request, China has agreed to suspend the repayment of debts that have matured on Sri Lanka's side, and has also proposed a financing plan.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Gunawardena
However, what people did not expect was that just after China supported Sri Lanka economically, Sri Lanka launched military cooperation with the United States. On April 22, the Sri Lankan Navy and the U.S. Navy officially launched a military exercise codenamed "CERAT", and the U.S. Navy sent 70 troops to Sri Lanka's Trincomalee Naval Base to conduct military exchanges and joint exercises with the Sri Lankan Navy.
You must know that almost at the same time, the so-called "shoulder-to-shoulder" military exercises between the United States and the Philippines have also begun, while the United States has launched military exercises with Sri Lanka at the same time, which undoubtedly shows the belligerent nature of the United States, the world's largest warring country. The U.S. side has already made a lot of noise about the U.S.-Sri Lanka military exercise, saying that it is to highlight the "friendly and solid partnership" between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.
It has to be said that at a time when China was helping Sri Lanka just last month, Sri Lanka was engaging in military cooperation with the US military this month, and this really makes people feel a little chilled! As an island country in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is indeed a key node in the Indian Ocean and is bordered by the Middle East in the west and the Strait of Malacca in the east. Sri Lanka itself is indeed a small country, and it is also motivated to hedge India's influence through cooperation with the United States and the West in such a process, so we can see that Sri Lanka has indeed made a lot of moves to curry favor with the United States and the West recently.
For example, in order to develop scientific undertakings for the benefit of all mankind, the mainland put forward a request to dock scientific research ships in Sri Lanka for replenishment, but this move was rejected by the Sri Lankan side, and Sri Lanka also demanded that our ships not conduct marine scientific research operations in the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone around Sri Lanka. However, the Sri Lankan side agreed to allow the German research ship to enter Sri Lankan waters, which was clearly an attempt to show goodwill to the West. In addition, the Sri Lankan Navy also dispatched a surface ship to join the so-called "armed escort" in the Red Sea led by the United States. Sri Lankan Defense Minister Pramita said it was because Sri Lanka had a "global responsibility"!
It can be seen that we actually need to pay attention to Sri Lanka's attitude. Here, I would also like to advise Sri Lanka that China can carry out construction and investment in Sri Lanka (such as the Hambantota port), while the United States will only conduct military exercises in Sri Lanka, and it is clear who can really help Sri Lanka's development. It is hoped that Sri Lanka will not be deceived by the petty interests and coercion and temptation of the United States and the West, but will be able to keep its eyes open and make a choice that is truly beneficial to Sri Lanka.