China's listening post in the Indian Ocean
When Sri Lanka’s new President Maithripala Sirisena recently visited
China he was literally squeezed by the Chinese leaders not to review the
Chinese investments and infrastructure projects in his country and
secure Chinese interests.
Sirisena had little room to manoeuvre Sri Lanka is in a difficult
financial situation. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) rejected a
request from the Sri Lankan Government for a US$ 4 billion loan to
restructure debt payment on Chinese loans.
Obviously, Sri Lanka has been caught in a Chinese debt trap. Parts of
the country seem to have been mortgaged to China to assist Beijing in
its advance into the Indian Ocean.
In writings on Chinese capture of strategic infrastructure projects
one that has missed attraction is the Lotus Tower in Colombo. The tower
funded by the Chinese Exim Bank, is 26 meters higher than the Eiffel
Tower. This US$ 103 million tower is being built by the China National
Electronic Import and Export Corporation (CNEIEC) and the Chinese
Aerospace Long – March International Trade (CALMIT).
A brief look at the background of these two Chinese Companies reveal
facts that the previous Sri Lankan Government, led by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa should have examined. According to CNEIEC’s profile, the
company is involved in defence electronics system integration,
construction of defence electronics system, integration of public
security responding to international anti – terrorism demand among
others.
The CALMIT is involved in the aero–space industry, according to its
company profile. It also specializes in export and import of defence
equipment, technology and services, export of anti – terrorism, anti –
riot equipment, technologies and services among other activities.
It is, therefore, intriguing that these two companies which are
involved in military and quasi – military business are building South
Asia’s tallest tower in Sri Lanka, covering the gut of the Indian Ocean
on the one side, and India on the other. There is no doubt that the
Lotus Tower is an electronic surveillance facility.
It may be argued that nothing like that is visible to the naked eye
on the tower. That would be challenging the advancement that technology
instruments are imbedded, and Sri Lanka does not have the technological
capability to locate such hidden assets, which are known as “assassin’s
mace” weapons. The tower, if allowed to complete construction will be a
threat to the security of the Indian Ocean and South Asia.
Add to this the Colombo port city, the Colombo port and the
Hambantota container port, three other strategic Chinese encroachments
in Sri Lanka, and a much larger picture emerges. China’s 21st Century
maritime Silk Road is calculated as very important, if not central, to
the success of this project.
This Silk Road is projected as a commercial and developmental
enterprise with a win-win situation for all. But what China is doing in
Sri
Lanka questions the ultimate design of the Silk Road. China has
suggested to the Sri Lankan president and foreign minister a trilateral
arrangement between China, Sri Lanka and India for the development of
Sri Lanka. Sirisena appears to have given a nod to the Chinese
suggestion when he was in China.
But India has to be brought in. How would this work? China is aware
of India’s concerns about its activities in Sri Lanka some of which are
perceived as a security threat to India.
What role would China like India to play in such a trilateral
arrangement? Should India look aside when it builds a listening tower in
Sri Lanka, have its submarines visit Sri Lanka, and finally turn the
country into a dual use platform for civilian and military use? This
sounds like a trap, pushing Sri Lanka to work on India. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi should be acutely aware of it when he visits China in May.
- (Defence.pk)
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