CHAPTER-I INTRODUCTION

Transcription

1 CHAPTER-I INTRODUCTION 1.0. Historical Perspective Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon under British rule until 1948, is an Island situated at the Southern proximity of the Indian sub-continent, with Sinhalese as the majority nearly 74.9 percent. The Sri Lankan Tamils represent 11.2 percent of the population and the Indian Tamils who were brought by Britain from India to work in the plantation are 4.2 percent. Other than this, 9.2 percent Muslims and others 0.5 percent are also living in the Island 1. Buddhism is the national religion which most of the Sinhala populations follow and Tamil population is mostly comprised of Hindus. Sri Lanka experienced a peaceful transition from colonial rule to independence in Then the parliamentary elections were held, and Tamils felt that they were being ignored in the State Council. They had already demanded a balanced representation in the State Council in As colonization had established an English speaking elite group, and also a nationalist movement which emerged in the late 19 th and the early 20 th centuries, it was considered as a threat to the indigenous minorities and the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism. The then Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike, who was previously in the United National Party, walked out from it and founded the Sri Lankan Freedom Party, and introduced Sinhala Only language policy in The peaceful Sathiyagraha by the Tamils to protest against the Sinhala only language policy was broken by the military and that led to the Island wide riots and protests. It was only the beginning of series of an ethnic riots in which thousands of Tamils had to lose their lives and property. In this connection, Sri Lankan peace process was initiated by the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam pact signed in In addition; in 1965 Dadley Senanayake - Chelvanayagam pact was signed. The Sri Lankan ethnic riots of 1983 moved the long simmering Sinhala-Tamil conflict in India as Tamil refugees across the Palk Strait reached India s Tamil Nadu evoking sympathy and 1 Statistics Department, Central Bank of Sri Lanka,(2014) Economical Social Statistics of Sri Lanka (Colombo)p GG.Ponnambalam(2001),The marathon crusade for fifty-fifty,balanced representation in the state council- 1939, Manimehalai Prasuram, Chennai, p H. S. S. Nissanka, International Relations and Geo-Politics,(New Delhi, Vikas Publishing House).p.11. 1

2 support from Tamil Nadu politicians in South India, and also from Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India 4. Efforts were taken to implement peace agreement and India played a major role. Following the Thimbu conference in 1985, and 1987, Indo-Lanka peace accord was signed by the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi and the then President of Sri Lanka, J. R. Jayewardene 5. The accord paved the way to send the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to North and Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, and the result of the agreement was that a violent conflict arose between the IPKF and the LTTE, and IPKF was fully withdrawn in 1989, due to the pressure of Premadasa, the then President of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. The third round of talks held between Premadasa and LTTE was also failed due to the mistrust among the parties. Then the peace negotiation between People s Alliance (PA), led by Chandirika Kumaratunga and the LTTE also collapsed due to the lack of trust and fear. The LTTE was to lost its support from Tamil Nadu, as it was accused of Rajiv Gandhi s assassination in May 1991.There have been more efforts to arrive at a negotiated political settlement each of which has collapsed. In 2002, the Sri Lanka Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe s government and LTTE have signed the Norwegian facilitated Memorandum of Understanding. Both parties have held six rounds of talks from Thailand to Geneva. In 2005 Mahinda Rajapaksa became the President of Sri Lanka and took firm action by initiating war against the LTTE. At the end of the war the LTTE were defeated by the Sri Lankan military on May 19 th 2009, at Mullivaikkal and the leader of LTTE, Prabhakaran was killed eventually. Then, Sri Lanka spent longer period of time to end the war with LTTE and in the process- it lost relationship with India. Utilizing this opportunity, China strengthened its friendship and emerged as one of the significant forces in Sri Lanka s military, economic, and social development. What made this difference in the contemporary circumstances? One of the plausible reasons for Sri Lanka, as noted by many scholars, is that its perception that the attitude and approach of the United States (US) and its western allies were not that reliable and helpful and hence its critical capability to identify and choose China as a friendly country and strategic partner against the backdrop of estrangement with India. 4 Orjuela, Camilla. Bastian, Sunil.Kottegoda, Sepali.andUyangoda, Jayadeva. (Ed), Power and Politics, in the Shadow of Sri Lanka s Arms conflict.sida, Colombo No.25, (2010).p Sivanandini Duraiswamy, My Diplomat, Colombo Sri Lanka, (2000), p

3 According to its perception further India, being its closest neighbor, view all the development in Sri Lanka with suspicion and apprehension. Due to such perception, over a period of time, the India-Sri Lanka relations have become weaker and China-Sri Lanka relations have become stronger than even before and strategically more important from the standpoint of Island nation 6. Looking at the issue in historical perspective, since the days of its independence, Sri Lanka has always remained as a part of the geo - political interest of India. In order to insulate itself from India, the regional power in South Asian region and also U.K. the erstwhile colonial power, Sri Lanka for a long time had established close relationship with the western countries especially the US. However, when Western countries made policy shifts and placed more restrictions and increased conditions on the economic aid, gradually Sri Lanka began to distance itself from the West. This was also the time when China came closer to Sri Lanka; this shift in the attitude of Sri Lanka, coincided with China s strategic interest and prosperity and its target towards achieving international recognition. On the other side, in the immediate post war period the 1949 Mao Tse-Tung s ( ) Chinese Revolution paved the way for communism and the domestic political upheavals of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution of the late 1960 s. In 1978 when Deng- Xiaoping of China introduced reforms and declared China as a socialist market oriented economy, it began strengthening its economic and trade ties globally. Chinese explicit outward economic orientation accelerated its growth rates which averaged around 10 percent in the last two decades although growth rate got the beating and decelerated in the wake of global economic crises since 2007 July. Looking at total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms in 2006 People s Republic of China (PRC) was the second largest economy in the world at US$10 trillion, close behind the United States with US$13 trillion 7. Along with its economic and political emergence as international power, the rise in the military dimension of China reached its peak in the international arena. In particular, the People s Liberation Army 6 Dahiya. Rumel, and Behuria. Ashok. K., (ed), (2012)India s Neighborhood Challenges in the Next Two Decades, New Delhi, Institute For Defense Studies & Analyses, p.ixx. 7 Eva. Paus, Prime, B. Penelope. Western,Jon, (ed), Global Giant : Is China Changing the Rules of the Game? Palgrave Macmillan, (2009), p.06. 3

4 Navy (PLAN) stands in splendid isolation as a highly dynamic sector of the Chinese military worrying its adversaries. There are reasons to believe that the Chinese naval fleet will surpass the world s largest navy in the near future 8. The past records of China, shows ample evidence that the emergence of sound political leadership is one of the instrumental factors for its spectacular rise. Likewise, with the former President Hu Jintao s rise to power in 2003, one can observe that besides displaying leadership qualities, he had a clear national goal oriented and a definite foreign policy popularly known as Soft Power Policy, a friendly authoritative approach. 9 This approach and policy soon merited the attention of the world, which is indeed forms the main plank of this research work. This friendly authoritative soft power policy was propounded by the Harvard University Professor, Political Advisor of United States, and popular international political critique, Joseph Nye and it has been effectively applied by many countries including China in their foreign policy objectives. 10 Over the last two decades, China has used the Soft Power policy as a means and mechanism to attract the rest of the world and it has been diplomatically using this policy successfully in the context to maintain relations with many developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. As Nye explained, Soft Power policy rests on the ability to shape the preferences of others 11. Similarly Chinese former Prime Minister Wen Jiabao observed in 2004: China s rise will not come at the cost of any other country. China will not stand in the way of any other country, nor pose a threat to any other. 12 Based on that approach, only China developed its relations with Sri Lanka. Notwithstanding Chinese historical connection with Sri Lanka it was only during the Post-cold war period. China s influence over the Island nation increased beyond leaps and bounds. More particularly in the recent times China s political influence over Sri Lanka centering on the Indian Ocean has rapidly increased. As international policy makers observe, a country s assistance and 8 Tritle, Matthew, C. The Growth Of The Chinese People s Liberation Army Navy: Impacts and Implications of Regional Naval Expansion, Monterey, California, (December, 2007), p Joshua Kurlantzick, Charm Offensive : How China s Soft Power is Transforming the World, London,Yale University Press,(2007),p Nye, Joseph S., Jr. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics. New York, Public Affairs,(2004),p Nye, Joseph S., Jr. The Powers to Lead, London, Oxford University Press, (2008),p JoshuaKurlantzick,opp.cited,p.38 4

5 cooperation is implicitly inbuilt within its authority 13. This holds good for China s continued hold over growth and prosperity over Sri Lanka, besides giving military assistance in the context of its own internal problems. In Sri Lanka, political changes occur through multi-party election process. China being the communist regime, changes occurs through elections in the Supreme Council, and liberal Democrats call such a power structure as authoritarianism 14. Both countries have Buddhism as part of their culture. China comparatively practices more Confucianism. Though, Sri Lanka professes to be a Buddhist country yet in its actual practice it follows the norms and principles that are not only contradictory to Buddhism, but also more regressive. China not only has the largest population but also in terms of economic growth is second in the world and it is stated that by 2020 China in terms of economic growth will be the first in the world. According to historical records, the friendly trade and cultural relations between China and Sri Lanka had always existed since the days of Silk Route trade era 15. The relationship between these two countries was strengthened especially after the Rice-Rubber deal agreement in With the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in power in 1957, diplomatic missions were established officially in both countries. As a result political and cultural trade relationship also expanded. Prime Minister Chou En Lai ( ) of China visited Sri Lanka in 1958 and And his Sri Lankan counterpart Sirimavo Bandaranaike visited Beijing in 1963 and made Colombo proposal. Again in 1972 she made a successful and highly publicized visit to China and she also had an audience with Mao- Tse - Tung 16.By the end of 1976, Colombo received interest free loan from China to finance agro-based and integrated textile mill. Beijing also gifted five high speeds naval boats to Sri Lanka. In addition China also constructed the Bandaranaike Memorial International conference hall, (BMACH) at an estimated cost of 3.5 million Sri Lankan rupees, which 13 Tanimen Ronald, Power Transition: Stagiest for the 21 st Century, Seven Bridges Press, (2000), p Amanda Harries, Consequences of Birth Politics and Practices in Post -reform China, reproductive, Health Matters,( 2007),p K.M.Panikkar, Asia and Western Dominance, A Survey of the Vasco Da Gama Epoch of Asian History , (London, 1965), p Nissanka, Hss, International Relations and Geopolitics ;( New Delhi: Vikas publishing House, 1997), p

6 was treated as Chinese good will act to Sri Lanka 17. This further strengthened the political relationship. It is worth observing that the State Leaders of countries, Diplomats, Political Party Leaders, Civic Communities, Military Leaders, Ministers, and Parliamentary members visited both countries on official tours and diplomatic missions. Treaties were signed between both countries on political, economic, military, and technological spheres. Given this long standing historical relationship between China and Sri Lanka, it is not difficult to understand as to why this relationship got eventually strengthened in the form of China s presence in the Indian Ocean especially when South Asia has become strategically more significant. In China s string of pearls Sri Lanka s Hambantota harbor is a main focal point 18. From those situated on the western coast of Indian Ocean such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Gulf of Aden, Gwader, Maldives, Hambantota, Chittagong and Straits of Malacca which are towards the east of the Indian Ocean, the Hambantota Port could be used as the base for China s dominance in the Indian Ocean and as a protective fortress in the South China Sea. This has placed India in the Indian Ocean in a precarious situation. The China-Sri Lanka relationship is seen by the world as an important pivotal force that has helped China to extend its control in and around South Asia. Further emerging Sino-Sri Lanka friendly relations are also seen as a challenge to US dominance in the Indian Ocean, and also give a message to the regional big brother India, that Lanka has alternative super power to support and help her politically and militarily. 1.1 Significance of the Study As compared to the historical ties in the past, in the last two decades, without any precedent, the Sino-Sri Lanka relations have grown enormously in a win-win situation for both. China is providing help to Sri Lanka not only in military and economic filed, but also supporting Sri Lankan policy in the global arena, especially in the United Nations. It is imperative to unfold reasons for this development. The recent closeness and togetherness of Sri Lanka with China will have repercussion in the Indo-Sri Lanka relations. The 17 Suryanarayan, V. Explaining China s Growing Influence in Sri Lanka. Eurasia Review,(06 May 2010). (accessed 01 April 2011) 18 Malathi De Alwis, The China Factor in Post-War Sri Lanka, htt;// 27 Aug

7 objective of this study is therefore to examine the impact of growing Sri Lanka-China relations in all its manifestations and also highlight the growing interest China has shown in the control of the Indian Ocean, which is likely to impinge on India s security in total.in Southern border one can notice a triangular relationship wherein China s military ambition is high that will have eventual security impact on India creating, thereby, a complex relationship with Sri Lanka especially in security matter, which is also likely to have a spill over effect in the long run for all. 1.2 Objectives The base-line studies are made in order to assess the changing future impact of China s relation with Sri Lanka. Thus, the main aim of this research is to understand the impact and the role of China in the political, economic, and military growth process in relation with Sri Lanka. An effort is also made to analyze this objective by examining key inter linked issues in the context of the contemporary international relations, especially with reference to the post - cold war period. Against this background the following objectives are set. To examine and evaluate the Sri Lanka s strategy towards China; To understand the nature of economic and political relations of Sri Lanka vis-a-vis China and India; To examine the impact of China s presence in Indian Ocean and the response of India in the political, military, and economic spheres; To evaluate the plausible Chinese politico-military intervention in the region, and its likely impact on India s security. 1.3 Research Questions 1. What are the internal, regional and international factors that strengthened the Sri Lanka - China relationship? 2. How did Sri Lanka contribute to the increasing dominance of China in the Indian Ocean? 3. How has the closeness of Sri Lanka - China relationship affecting India, the biggest neighbouring country and India's balance of regional dominance? 7

8 1.4 Hypotheses Against the above objectives, the following hypotheses are formulated: China-Sri Lanka relations is only continuation of progressive relationship that has always existed between two independent and sovereign nations. However, strong relationship has grown in the post cold war period due to China s interest to achieve its String of Pearls Strategy ; China-Sri Lanka relations is an extension of its friendly authoritative approach, for which China use Soft Power strategy for attaining strategic vision, branded to be String of Pearls strategy ; Geo-economic shift of Asia in the post-cold war, China-Sri Lanka relations improved successive regimes. Sri Lanka s geo-strategic position and importance has enhanced China - Sri Lanka relations in its international political context, regional political rivalry, and dominance in the Indian Ocean. 1.5 Research Problems The main problem of this research is to examine the important political, social, economic and military factors that strengthened Sri Lanka - China relationship especially in the decades that followed the cold war. The sub - problem of this research examines the consequences that follow or will follow as a result of such an intense relationship. 1.6 Methodology This research is basically a descriptive analysis based on the materials gathered from primary and secondary sources of both government of China and the government of Sri Lanka. 8

9 The research bears vital records of critical information based on the treaties signed by the two countries, the reports released, the letters exchanged, information and reports released by the high ranking Ministers, officials, Parliamentarians, and heads of the defense forces, added to this, statistics on trade and economic exchange and statistics on exchange of military equipment are also obtained. Relevant information are also collected from respective Governments' publications, and information originating from both countries such as research material, treaties, friendly assistance, officials and diplomats visits, and the issues that have arisen as a result of these, positive and negative criticism and speeches made on the rise of influence of China over Sri Lanka and issues that have arisen out of policies implementation. Interviews have been considered. While maintaining the standard of the chosen information pertaining to leading politicians and intellectuals of Sri Lanka and China are gathered, this information is used to arrive at conclusions through the primary method. As Secondary data newspaper articles, newspaper reports and Books and research articles written by reputed authors served as reference material for this research work. Moreover, the information released in leading daily newspapers, journals, and magazines, research reports submitted in these areas by Chinese, Indian and Sri Lankan academics have been consulted to update the research Limitations of the Study This work does not deal with the Tamil issues in connection with both the North East of Sri Lanka and India and only deals with certain peripheral issues to highlight the importance of strategic posture in order to attain greater analytical understanding on shifting paradigm of Sri Lanka s foreign policy vis-a-vis China, a country that presumed to be brilliantly using the vacuum created by India, specifically in the area of economy Plan of the Study The thesis has seven chapters including introduction and conclusion. The first chapter provides brief details about the thesis and the second deals with the concept of strategy in connection with the relationship between Sri Lanka and China. It also deals with 9

10 the importance of understanding the world politics in the context of Sri Lanka and China focusing at the ongoing debate over China s perception on Soft Power. The historical relations between China and Sri Lanka from the post-cold war period to the end of the Ranil Wickremasinghe Government, especially in relation to politics, military, and economy with emphasis on growing trade are dealt in the third chapter. In Chapter four, the links between Rajapaksa Governments and China encompassing political, military, economic, and cultural relationship are discussed. It also explains about the influence of China and its impact on international power politics. Chapter five analyses the China s involvement in Indian Ocean region with reference to string of pearls strategy, in addition, to exploring the global power politics in the Indian Ocean. Chapter six examines the impact of India s role in countenance to China s strategic relation with Sri Lanka focusing at maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. The last chapter provides some suggestions for improving security environment in the Indian Ocean by critically evaluating Sri Lanka-China relations Review of Literature The following reviews of literature helped the researcher for carrying forward the study successfully Soft Power Soft Power: The Means To Success In World Politics 19 (2004) written by Joseph S. Nye, Jr. discusses the Soft Powers and their importance to understand the strategic posture between nations by considering political, economic, and military factors. Being the father of Soft Power approaches, he analyses the global politics carried on by the US and China pertaining to the fact that military and economic aids are used as a ploy to generate political support pivotal for maintaining the strategic relation between nations. The book also enumerates the global political authority and its importance to maintain balanced relationship between Sri Lanka and China. It has become a corner stone for the present 19 Nye, Joseph S., Jr. Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics.(New York: Public Affairs, 2004). 10

11 research, as it is analyzing every aspect of the strategic relationship between China and Sri Lanka. However, the author has ignored to articulate on hard power strategy and its importance. Soft Power: China s Emerging Strategy in International Politics 20 (2009), written by Mingjiang Li is a book of compilation of essays that examines the origin and evolution of China s Soft Power policy and its limitations. It extensively analyses the theory of Soft Power and its importance. Moreover, China s competition in global politics and its approaches are well discussed, in addition to analyzing the inherent weakness of the strategy of both China and US. He does not deal with maritime strategy in relation to international politics. The Powers to Lead 21 (2008) written by Joseph S Nye Jr. provides another aspect to understand the extension of authority through leadership and the pragmatic use of Soft Power, Smart Power and Hard Power. It also examines approaches in the context to leadership, and its importance in political, economic and military growth. According to him, when leaders use Soft Power the positive gains are much more than using Hard Power and in the Post Second World War era world leaders, as noted, have placed heavy emphasis on Soft Power policy rather than the Hard Power policy since it provided great dividends. After having elaborated the Soft Power, he also deals with the future powers in the context of military relationship. However he doesn t note deal with the Sri Lanka s strategic relations either with China or India. Charm Offensive: How China s Soft Power Is Transforming the World 22 (2007) written by Joshua Kurlantzick, notes that China is using Soft Power as its strategic approach to advance its influence for controlling the world. It also examines in depth the historical aspect of China and US strategy extensively focusing on Soft Power especially in connection with construction of harbors and oil pipe lines in the ocean. It describes as to how China extends its soft power policy to influence the world by analyzing soft power 20 Mingjiang. Li, (ed). Soft Power: China's Emerging Strategy in International Politics.( Lanham, Lexington, 2009). 21 Joseph. S. Nye, Jr. The Powers to Lead, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008). 22 Joshua, Kurlantzick. Charm Offensive: How China s soft Power is Transforming the World, (London: Yale University Press, 2007). 11

12 approaches of China and the US. According to him, China adopts a soft power policy that galvanizes and attracts the world with a win - win approach through agreements, memorandums of understanding with a give and take attitude, giving priority to other nations irrespective of them being big or small. It notes that culture and commerce are used as basic tools in China's soft power policy and the America's soft power policy is increasingly becoming unsuccessful in the world specifically in Asia, Africa and Latin American countries. According to him, America cannot provide aid from a standpoint of a dominant nation and then expect to attract the other countries. There is a marked difference between the policies that China and America in the recent past adopted to attract the countries in the world. Though China used soft power and America used hard power both powers together could be identified as smart power. China while globally attracting countries towards it, at the same time is in a process of expanding and modernizing its army, navy and air force. Chinese approach is being accepted globally and global cooperation is extended to its military expansion. This book provides immense support for the main theoretical frame of this strategy. Governance in a Globalizing World 23 (2000) written by the authors Joseph. S. Nye (Jr.) and John. D. Donahue elaborates the unlimited and neo-realist theories in International relations to global politics. They noted that the Soft Power and Hard Power approaches and policies are utilized by super powers to exert control over other nation states. However in the recent dynamics of global politics, the book doesn t deal with Soft Power approaches specifically in relations to governance. China And The Developing World : Beijing s Strategy For The Twenty-First Century 24 (2007) written by Joshua Eiseman, Eric Heginbotham and Derek Mitchell, expose the China s diplomatic relationship with the developing countries in the context to political, economic, and military aid. The political leadership, as noted by another, has also 23 Joseph S. Nye Jr. And John D. Donahue (Eds) Governance in a Globalizing World, (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2000). 24 Joshua, Eisenman. Eric. Heginbotham and Derek.Mitchell.(Ed) China and the Developing World : Beijing s Strategy for the Twenty-First Century,(United States of America, An East Gate Book, 2007) 12

13 aided this process, in Asian, African, and Latin American countries initiating the Soft Power foreign policy especially implementing the economic diplomacy that boosts the trades commerce and geo-political strategic relationship of China. It should be noted here that they not concentrate on developing comprehensive outlook for implementing soft power strategies. Global Giant: Is China Changing The Rules Of Game? 25 (2009) by Eva Paus, Penelope B. Prime and Jon Western, deals with global growth as economic and military power that helped China taking central stage on global diplomatic map. According to them, China s emerging role as a super power has invariably caused US to lose its hold and pre-eminence on developing nations. However, they have not given importance for analyzing Chinese strategy in a comprehensive manner Foreign Policy of Sri Lanka The Chinese Connection: A study of Sri Lanka China Relations in the Modern Period 26, (1976) written by Gamini Navaratna, deals with China - Sri Lanka relations from early century to the 20th century. It has eleven chapters and all of them cover China - Sri Lanka relations, effectively encompassing Cultural Relations, Trade Relations, and Maritime Relations. It points out that during the SLFP period China - Sri Lanka relations, has increased than the UNP period highlighting the Maritime transport agreement signed on the 25th July 1963 that paved the way for cohesive military relationship between both countries. It also notes that the Rubber - Rice agreement signed in 1952 has initiated the trade relations strengthened further the diplomatic relations which is not generally liked by Tamils. Although it compiles historical details extensively, it does not to critically examine various issues. My Quest for Peace A Collection of Speeches on International Affairs 27, (1988) authored by J. R. Jayawardene contains forty two essays pertaining to Sri Lanka's foreign affairs during his period. Though these essays were speeches of J. R. Jayawardene, it 25 Eva, Paus. Prime, B.Penelope. Western, Jon, (Ed), And Global Giant: Is China Changing the Rules of the Game? (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009). 26 Gamini Navaratna, The Chinese Connexion: A study of Sri Lanka China relations in the modern period,(sandesa News Agency Publication,Colombo,1976). 27 J. R. Jayawardene, My Quest for Peace: A collection of Speeches on International Affairs (1988). 13

14 however, expose the interest with which the Sri Lankan foreign policies are made and expose the international interests with reference to Non-aligned Movement(NAM), SAARC and the UN, covering a period from 1957 to Arms Trade With Sri Lanka Global Business, Local Costs 28 ( 2011 ) is written by Jonas Lindberg, Camilla Orjuela, Siemon Wezeman, and Linda Akerstorm, highlights the advantages of Sri Lanka s strategic relations with Super powers and its keen interest in military trade. The arms that China has given to Sri Lanka, as mentioned by them, helped Sri Lanka to defeat LTTE. They also note that the arms aid to Sri Lanka from China is on a continuous basis and thus provide anchor to Lanka s military enabling it to find a military solution to the Island. It examines the interests of many countries selling arms to Sri Lanka and their interests on ethnic conflict. However, it does not deal with peace, human rights and reconciliation process needed to attain political as well as economic gains. Foreign Policy of Sri Lanka: A Third World Perspective 29 (1989), written by Shelton Kodikara, deals with the United National Party and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. According to him the United National Party s pro-western foreign policy and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party s leniency towards China, changed the political atmospheres leading to change overall strategy. Though, the foreign policy of Sri Lanka was in line with the Non - Aligned Movement, as noted by him, the successive governments that came to power always tilted towards west or east accordingly using Sri Lanka as an instrument to achieve their objectives. Although the book expose the interests of both the parties, it does not account on their foreign policy behavior with respect to various strategic issues. H. S. S. Nissanka, in his book, International Relations and Geo-Politics 30, (1996) explains that Sri Lanka s relationship is tilting towards India and, other third world countries and its contribution for world peace through the United Nations is significant. As per his views, the effort and initiative by Sri Lanka to establish a peace zone in the Indian Ocean has had an important impact on world politics. Similarly the economic aid given by 28 Jonas Lindberg, Camilla Orjuela, SiemonWezeman, Linda Akerstorm; (Ed)Arms Trade With Sri Lanka: Global Busiess, Local Costs,(Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society, 2012). 29 Shelton Kodikara, Foreign Policy of Sri Lanka; A Third World Perspective,(Ceylon, Colombo University Press, 1989). 30 H. S. S. Nissanka, International Relations And Geo-Politics,(New Delhi, Vikas Publishing House PVT, LTD, 1997). 14

15 the world to Sri Lanka as noted has also been considerably increasing. Although Nissanka s approach seems to be positive in the previous political relationship between China and Sri Lanka, the current views are not clearly expressed by him. The present thesis aims at evaluating the current and future perspective. Sunil Bastian, in his book, the Politics of Foreign Aid in Sri Lanka: Promoting Markets and Supporting Peace 31, (2007) documents the fact about Sri Lanka s initiative for open market economy. That has received considerable amount of support allocated economic assistance from abroad. According to him the assistance was primarily from Japan, US, China, and European countries. However, as per his analysis, there was always a clear hidden agenda behind these assistances and the donor countries aspired to create peaceful conditions in the Indian Ocean and consequently increase the volume of the market according to their interests. He did not analyze the Sri Lanka foreign policies. Anthony Kellett in his book China s Periphery; South Asia 32 (2010) argues that China s relationship with Sri Lanka is very tactful which always aim at achieving its foreign policy objective in South Asian region. According to him, China directly got involved by providing military aids to Sri Lanka, thus helping the army to defeat LTTE. Such relationship of China helped Sri Lanka another notes, generate military and economic help from India too. The Chinese Army Today, Tradition and Transformation for the 21 st Century 33 : (2006) by Dennis, Blasko. J elaborates about the military modernization program of the Chinese people s Liberation Army in the last decades. Based on Chinese sources, author explains about the changes and key developments that emerged since 1999 and puts them in the context of the historical traditions. It essentially analyses Chinese military and politics, Asian regional security, and strategic situation at global level. However, it does not analysis maritime strategy in the context to soft power approaches of China. 31 Sunil Bastian, The Politics of Foreign Aid In Sri Lanka; Promoting Markets And Supporting Peace, (Colombo, ICES Publication.2007). 32 Anthony Kellett, China s Periphery ; South Asia,(Canada Centre for Operational Research and Analysis, August, 2010). 33 Dennis, Blasko. J The Chinese Army Today, Tradition and Transformation for the 21 st Century, ( New York: Rutledge, 2006). 15

16 India s Neighborhood Challenges in the Next Two Decades 34 (2012) edited by Rumel Dahiya and Ashok K Behuria, considers India s neighborhoods and its importance over the past two decades. According to them, India is attempting to take a close look at her foreign and defense policies and therefore the key factor of the geo-political situation in the neighborhood is likely to change increasingly relying on external factors in regional politics. They note further that there is continuing anti-india sentiments in some of the South Asian countries and there are also signs of greater desire for economic integration, strengthening of democratic institutions and regional cooperation. While India may face security challenges in the years to come, the another notes that India should be careful in maintaining relations with South Asian countries, that will create opportunity for integrating South Asian political, economic, and military interests. The author states that in 2030 the main issues in Sri Lanka will be economy and the resolution of the ethnic conflict. However the author has failed to analyses the impact of Sri Lanka - China relations on India Indian Ocean A Diamond in The String of Pearls: The Strategic Importance of Sri Lanka for Indian Ocean Regional Stability 35 (2011) in this book the author Cory N. Gassaway notes about the expansion of China in Indian Ocean, and its continuous involvement in the power of economic development. More particularly, as he notes military dominance has been intensely expanding, through string of pearls approach of China and constantly increases the commercial activities, especially in the main harbors of the Indian Ocean. The influence of China on Sri Lanka as noted has been phenomenal which has increased more than the influence of US. Thus he argues that the strategic stability of the Indian Ocean is more important for diplomatic participation and engagement by US, China, India and Sri Lanka. 34 Rumel.Dahiya and Ashok. K, Behuria, (Ed) India s Neighborhood Challenges in the Next Two Decades, ( New Delhi, IDSA Publication,2012) 35 Cory. N. Gassaway. A Diamond in the String of Pearls: The Strategic Importance of Sri Lanka for Indian Ocean Regional Stability,(Newport, Naval War College, 2011). 36 Matthew, Tritle. C.The Growth of The Chinese People s Libration Army Navy, Impacts and Implications Of Regional Naval Expansion, (Monterey, California, December, 2007). 16

17 The Growth of the Chinese People s Liberation Army Navy; Impacts and Implications of Regional Naval Expansion 36 (2007), written by Mathew C Tritle, explains about the China s grant leap in economic growth and its strategic importance. According to him, China s strength in sea and its military domination at sea has been expanding - leading to attain naval supremacy in the near future. In his analysis, he did not include India s response to china s military expansion in the Indian Ocean explicitly. Asia and Western Dominance, A Survey of the Vasco Da Gama Epoch of Asian History (1965), by K. M. Panikkare valuates the history of Indian Ocean, and the role of Europe. According to him, Sri Lanka and China s connection at sea in the 15 th century had established friendly relations between these countries in addition to their strategically expanding relationship in the Indian Ocean. Christopher J. Pehrson, in his book String Of Pearls: Meeting The Challenge Of China s Rising Power Across The Asian Littoral 38 (2006), notes that China is slowly and steadily conquering the Indian Ocean by expanding military, economic, telecommunication cooperation with Indian Ocean countries and also by adopting the string of pearls strategy along the line of South China Sea towards Malacca. This is not only a challenge to India as noted by the author, but also a challenge to US. In this context he also notes that the strategic importance of Sri Lanka has become very vital, for China, US, and India. The book Monsoon, the Indian Ocean and the future of American power 39.(2010), written by Robert D. Kaplan, identifies the importance of harbor points in the Indian Ocean, by evaluating the 21 st century and its strategic importance with reference to China, India, and US. According to him, the Indian Ocean region emerges as an area for control for several great powers by competing in the emerging multi-polar world. He notes that nearly seventy percent of the world s petroleum product passes through the Indian Ocean, 37 K. M. Panikkar. Asia And Western Dominance, A Survey of the Vasco Da Gama Epoch of Asian History , (London: George Allen,1965). 38 Christopher J. Pehrson, String of Pearls; Meeting the Challenge of China s Rising Power across the Asian Littoral,(United State, July 2006, 39 Robert.D. Kaplan, Monsoon: The Indian Ocean and the future of American power, (New York : Random House, 2010). 17

18 and therefore the strategic importance of the region, is well evaluated by Sri Lanka, India, China, and the US. China s Nightmare, America s Dream: India as the Next Global Power 40 (2012) authored by William H. Avery, argues that India is emerging as a future super power and China has already emerged as a super power and has been expanding its hold on the globe accordingly. He further refers that China views both the US and India as its competitors. In this power games, as noted by him, one can vividly visualize the military as well as naval competition among US, China, and India. According to him, China is aware that, it s growing dominance over Sri Lanka though its military and economic co-operation which validates its status of super power as revealed by economic and military dominance in Indian Ocean and South Asian region. He also points out that the strategy of China is more positive rather than India and the US, by illustrating the current circumstances forced by super power especially after the defeat of the LTTE in 2009 by the Sri Lankan army. Although Avery s approach seems to be positive in the current political relationship between China and Sri Lanka, the futuristic views are not clearly expressed by him. The present thesis aims at evaluating the future perspective Conclusion The above the section, review of literature consists of three parts explicitly explain about the existing books and articles respective areas, which are very helpful to formulate and carry forward present research successfully. 40 William H. Avery: China s Nightmare, America s Dream; India as the Next Global Power, (New Delhi, India, 2012). 18