China is strengthening its relationship with Sri Lanka, a small but strategically important country in Asia, as the US under President Biden focuses on bolstering ties with its Indo-Pacific allies. The recent election of a Marxist president in Sri Lanka, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has raised concerns about China’s expanding influence in the region.
Dissanayake, the leader of the National People’s Power Party, secured 42 percent of the votes in a crowded field of 34 candidates, highlighting the economic difficulties faced by the country. China’s President Xi Jinping congratulated Dissanayake and expressed interest in working together on China’s Belt-and-Road initiative, which aims to connect China to the Middle East and Europe through infrastructure projects.
Sri Lanka’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean has made it a key player in China’s geopolitical ambitions, with the country hosting Chinese-built ports and other facilities that could serve both commercial and military purposes. China’s significant investments in Sri Lanka, including a major oil project, have raised concerns about the country’s growing debt to China.
Meanwhile, China has criticized the US-led Quad alliance, which includes India, Japan, and Australia, as a tool to contain China and maintain US dominance in the region. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian disparaged a recent meeting hosted by President Biden with Quad leaders, accusing the US of using the alliance to undermine China’s influence.
The relationship between China and Sri Lanka, as well as the broader geopolitical dynamics in the region, will continue to evolve as major powers like the US and China compete for influence in Asia. Sri Lanka’s new Marxist president may further strengthen ties with China, raising questions about the country’s position in the growing rivalry between the US and China in the region.
