Indian MP Shashi Tharoor warns Sri Lanka about Chinese designs

Author-diplomat Shashi Tharoor has warned Sri Lankans of possible Chinese meddling in its internal affairs in the guise of promoting economic relations.

The former Indian junior foreign minister and now MP said the Chinese may emulate their legendary Admiral Zheng He in the 15th century.

“There are some concerns in India if China’s interests here undermine our own historical and cultural links built over generations,” Tharoor said during the launch of a political biography of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

The biography is authored by Dinesh Weerakkody.

“China’s ambitions in the South China Sea have extended into the Indian Ocean and has caused anxiety in a number of countries looking to India as an alternative security provider,” Tharoor said.

“India has been better at projecting soft power in the region than hard power but there are concerns that we are gradually being strangled by China’s string of pearls around our oceanic neck,” said Tharoor, who served as a UN under secretary general.

Tharoor then recalled how Chinese Admiral Zheng He came to Galle in south Sri Lanka in the 15th century with world’s largest fleet at that time, which had 28,000 troops on board.

Though the aim of the mission was to establish trading posts in Sri Lanka and across the world, the Admiral ended up abducting king Vira Alakeswara, who was kept hostage in China, he said.

Tharoor said Indian investors have concerns about the absence of a level playing field vis-à-vis the Chinese in Sri Lanka.

“Many in our private sector have pointed to the extraordinary stringency of Sri Lanka’s Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) when applied to Indian firms. They feel Chinese companies don’t face as many hurdles as Indian companies do,” he said.

Tamil Nadu Factor

Tharoor stressed the need for a negotiated political settlement in Sri Lanka which is acceptable to all communities and consistent with democracy, pluralism and respect for human rights.

He said that India cannot but be involved in this process --  it is Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour and there are 70 million Tamils  in India who feel strongly for their ethnic cousins across the Palk Straits.

 “We are not merely committed to mending the past but we are also committed to Sri Lanka’s future,” he said.