Trapped between the Dragon and South Asia’s big brother: the case of Sri Lanka’s “balanced” foreign policy (original) (raw)
Related papers
OASIS, 2022
China's economic resurgence augurs the possibility of a recalibration in the global balance of power. Many contend that this process is already underway in East Asia-specifically in relation to the South China Sea. In other parts of the world, China's growing footprint is discernible through infrastructure projects, under Beijing's Belt and Road initiative. Does China leverage its economic power to realise its interests by forcing smaller nations to accept conditions and agreements which are not in the latter's interests? This paper examines whether evidence to this effect is visible through a case study of Sri Lanka. The island's geographic S h a k t h i D e S i l v a 4 8
LKI Policy Briefs - 2023/7, 2023
The paper discusses the foreign policy challenges confronted by Sri Lanka arising from the major power rivalry in the Indian Ocean Region - focussing on India, China, and the United States of America. Reviewing the associated dynamics and identifying the flashpoints, it argues that the reality facing Sri Lanka, is that in more recent times, even on occasions that Sri Lanka has adopted a strictly non-aligned/neutral approach in its foreign policy, the concerned countries and its alliances have brought pressure on Sri Lanka to operate in a ‘zero-sum’ environment. Drawing on a presentation made at the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) Regional Conference on ‘Ocean Security: South Asia and the Indian Ocean’ on 16 October 2023, the paper suggests modalities that could help Sri Lanka overcome this predicament of becoming a theatre for confrontation between the major powers.
The Morning Newspaper, 2023
Abstract: Sri Lanka, nestled at the Indian Ocean's crossroads, navigates a complex geopolitical landscape. This article explores the island nation's quest for strategic equilibrium amidst rising Chinese influence and the lingering legacy of colonialism. Key points: China's Belt and Road Initiative: Sri Lanka's extensive infrastructure projects, funded by China, spark concerns about sovereignty and strategic implications. Competing Civilizations: The article argues that China's distinct system challenges the dominant "world capitalist civilization," raising questions about global order. Sri Lanka's Strategic Potential: The island's location, natural harbors, and regional connections position it as a potential hub for global development and Indian Ocean security. Balancing Interests: Sri Lanka seeks to engage with both the established global order and the emerging Chinese system while safeguarding its own sovereignty. Proposal for an Indian Ocean Treaty Organisation (IOTO): The article suggests a collaborative maritime security framework to ensure regional stability and resource flow. Overall, this article provides a nuanced perspective on Sri Lanka's strategic challenges and opportunities in a world increasingly defined by competing systems and power dynamics.
The Indo-China Balance of Power in South Asian Region: A Sri Lankan Perspective
Vidyodaya Journal , 2023
China and India are two states with which Sri Lanka has maintained close relations in the past. These two states have given a lot of support to Sri Lanka in many crisis situations that Sri Lanka has faced in international politics. China is one of the main countries that have helped Sri Lanka from the past until recently. Also, in view of the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka after Covid-19, India has also given special support to Sri Lanka. Thus, it can be stated that China and India are keen to provide support to Sri Lanka in a very competitive manner. As a result of all these factors, India and China, the two most powerful nations in Asia, are in a furious power struggle over Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean. That is, the South Asian region is facing a problem of balance of power. The primary goal of this research is to examine Sri Lanka's role in the rivalry in South Asia between China and India. The research objective is 'what policy Sri Lanka should adhere to when managing its relations with India and China?'. This study's methodology, which is qualitative in nature, depends only on secondary data to gather information. Content analysis was used for data analysis. According to this study, for Sri Lanka, India and China are equally important and China has provided a lot of assistance to Sri Lanka financially. However, in view of the current economic crisis Sri Lanka is facing, China's response to Sri Lanka has become sluggish. Nevertheless, Indian engagement has recently become increasingly crucial for Sri Lanka due to the terrible economic crisis the country is experiencing in the wake of Covid-19. Sri Lanka should, however, maintain a neutral stance in its interactions with the two adversarial nations, India and China.
JDPA KDU , 2021
Power struggles are a common occurrence in world politics and their impact depends on the nature of the parties to the struggle. As the 21 st century being dubbed the century of Asia, the growing competition between China and India as two aspiring Asian nations to become global superpowers has shifted the gravity of world politics to the Indian Ocean region. The United States of America, as an existing superpower, seeks to maintain its position to retain its status despite the evolving world order. Accordingly, the direct and indirect actions of these three countries make the Indian Ocean region a contested domain for dominance. Sri Lanka, as a small country in the region, located centrally in the Indian Ocean, is strategically facing challenges due to the rivalry of the US, India, and China. With inherent dependency over these three countries, Sri Lanka's policy towards the Indian Ocean is important for its security and development. Although Sri Lanka has fundamental principles towards the Indian Ocean, current power relations relating to the Indian Ocean has created much uncertainty towards the peaceful existence of the IO. Therefore, Sri Lanka was compelled to re-strategize its policy in the Indian Ocean while broadening the scope of security. This paper provides a detailed study of the nature of current power rivalry in the Indian Ocean with specific policy expectations of major triangle of power of the Indian Ocean. Accordingly, it analyses the factors that influence Sri Lanka to formulate its policy towards the Indian Ocean region. It concludes that instead of acting on a stand-alone policy, Sri Lanka should strongly follow a policy of multilateralism to minimize the tension in the region and achieve its national interest through cooperation without taking a side of any power block which are trying to compete in the Indian Ocean to assure its hegemony.
Sri Lanka-China Relations :Analysing Sri Lankan, Chinese, and Indian Perspectives
Economic and Political Weekly (EPW), 2022
The Sri Lankan, Indian, and Chinese perspectives on the growing strategic partnership between Sri Lanka and China are analysed. The motivations and objectives of India and China in strengthening their artnership with Sri Lanka are examined. The history of the Sri Lanka–China relationship and Chinese overtures to Sri Lanka in recent days is discussed. It is argued that given the geostrategic location of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, and proximity to India, an aspiration for infrastructural developmental and Chinese developmental assistance are primarily shaping the Sri Lankan foreign policy choice to adopt hedging to maximise benefits.
Sri Lanka Navigating Major Power Rivalry: How domestic drivers collide with the international system
Small States & Territories, 2023
In an era of major-power competition, the alliance politics of small states are attracting more attention. This article examines the case of Sri Lanka, a small South Asian state seen as balancing against India’s interests or bandwagoning with China. Through the evaluation of international relations theories and use of data sources from Sri Lanka, this article argues that the country was not balancing against India, bandwagoning with China, or even hedging. Instead, the article will engage with new scholarship on small-state alliance strategies and suggest that the episode was driven primarily by domestic-level factors. When a smaller state faces pressure at the system level, the choices it makes are not necessarily between bandwagoning, balancing or hedging, but between the pursuit of domestic-level interests and preferences; and “bandwagoning as a last resort.”
Proceedings of 8th International Research Conference, 2015
Both China and India have shown an increasing interest towards the Indian Ocean and have towards this end, engineered several key strategies and initiatives, i.e. the Maritime Silk Route initiative by the former and the Indian Ocean Strategy by the latter. Both these nations have also identified Sri Lanka, with its strategic location in the Indian Ocean as an ideal focal point to implement their policies and objectives. China’s plans are underway to re-establish the ancient Maritime Silk Route thereby reaping economic benefits by enhancing regional connectivity and securing its energy requirements. Whilst India is increasing her maritime and security ambitions via its strategic initiatives with smaller island nations in the greater Indian Ocean region. The latter is more inclined towards maritime security cooperation with lesser emphasis on economic partnerships which the former is more predisposed towards. In this context, this study will focus on the political situation in the world with special emphasis on the Indian Ocean Region. It will also address the strategic importance Sri Lanka plays in the region and the diplomatic role it has to master in collaborating with these two regional giants. The region has emerged as a catalyst in strategic planning for most of the world’s dominant powers. Accordingly, Sri Lanka has been identified as a means for regional dominance. Further this will also address Sri Lanka’s need to take a more assertive role in promoting and projecting herself in the international arena.
China in Sri Lanka’s Political-Economic Crisis; Foreign Policy and Security Perspective
INDIA AND THE ISLAND STATES IN THE INDIAN OCEAN: Evolving Geopolitics and Security Perspectives, 2023
The paper attempts to assess the background for Sri Lanka’s recent political- economic crisis with a particular focus on the external influence of China. What were the political-economic policy decisions that triggered the crisis? What was China’s involvement in the crisis? What was the impact of the crisis in Sri Lanka towards India and the Indian Ocean security? Why did Gotabaya Rajapaksa tilt Sri Lanka’s foreign policy posture towards China? Regional and global initiatives that Sri Lanka could benefit from will be discussed.