Page 12 - The Indian EYE 010524

OPINION JANUARY 05, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12

SRI LANKA BATTLES WAVES communication between the United
OF ECONOMIC CRISIS States and the [People’s Republic of
China] in order to responsibly man-
s Sri Lanka’s battle against age the relationship.”
economic crisis remains per- The Biden administration im-
Asistent, India’s assistance to posed restrictions on sales of some
the island nation gives the country an US technology to several Chinese avi-
anchorage to hold its boat under its ation and technology companies, as
‘neighbourhood first’ policy. part of its response to a Chinese spy
The External Affairs Minister, balloon that appeared in US airspace,
S Jaishankar visited India twice this The New York Times reported.
year. His first visit took place at the The US Commerce Depart-
start of this year (January 2023) and ment added five Chinese compa-
his second one in October. nies and one research institute to its
During his January visit, Jaishan- so-called entity list, which will stop
kar not only assured Sri Lanka of In- firms from selling them American
dia’s unwavering support to the island The Sri Lankan President travelled to New Delhi in July this year at the invitation of Prime parts and technologies without a
nation in its economic recovery but Minister Narendra Modi (ANI) special license.
also invited the country’s President According to officials, the six
Ranil Wickremesinghe to visit India. entities had supported Chinese mili-
Following this, the Sri Lankan India (SBI) and the Government of ed States. tary programs related to airships and
President arrived here in New Delhi Sri Lanka, during Sri Lankan Finance In his statement, Lloyd Austin balloons used for intelligence and re-
in July this year at the invitation of Minister Basil Rajapaksha’s two-day said American fighter aircraft “suc- connaissance, according to The New
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. visit to India. cessfully brought down the high-al- York Times report.
During his visit, President Wick- India and Sri Lanka held the 12th titude surveillance balloon launched In March, Taiwan President Tsai
remesinghe met his Indian counter- round of negotiations on the Eco- by and belonging to the People’s Re- Ing-wen arrived in New York City de-
part Droupadi Murmu and discussed nomic and Technology Cooperation public of China (PRC) over the water spite Beijing’s warning that her visit
various issues of mutual interest with Agreement (ETCA) in Colombo, Sri off the coast of South Carolina in US could lead to “serious confrontation”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lanka from October 30, 2023 to No- airspace.” between China and the US. Taiwan
other Indian dignitaries as well. vember 1, 2023. The two countries He said Biden gave his authori- faced “tremendous challenges,” Tsai
According to an MEA release, had 11 rounds of bilateral talks from zation “as soon as the mission could said from the city, where she made
Wickremesinghe’s visit was to rein- 2016 to 2018. Thereafter the negotia- be accomplished without undue risk the first of two planned stopovers in
force the longstanding friendship be- tions were paused. to American lives under the bal- the US on either side of an official
tween the two countries and explore loon’s path.” visit to Central America, CNN re-
avenues for enhanced connectivity US-CHINA TENSIONS China expressed its “strong dis- ported.
and mutually beneficial cooperation CONTINUE TO SIMMER satisfaction and protest” against the Tsai’s visit to the US sparked
across sectors. shooting down of its balloon. The sharp condemnation from Beijing,
India and Sri Lanka, apart from ensions between the United Chinese Foreign Ministry said the which claims Taiwan as its territory
engaging on various fora, also are a States and China continue to US was “overreacting” and “serious- despite never having controlled it.
good maritime neighbour to each Tsimmer despite the meeting ly violating international practice,” Speaking to reporters in Washington,
other. between US President Joe Biden and according to a CNN report. China China’s charge d’affaires Xu Xueyu-
The highly advanced Indian Na- his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping said the vessel was a weather balloon an said Tsai’s US transit could lead
val Ship ‘Nireekshak’ arrived at the in November and high-level visits by thrown off course. to a “serious” confrontation in the
port of Trincomalee in September this Biden administration officials to Chi- In the statement, the Chinese US-China relationship and have a
year to facilitate Mixed Gas Diving na to ease differences on trade, Tai- Foreign Ministry said, “The Chinese “severe impact” on their ties.
training for the Sri Lanka Navy, ac- wan and Ukraine-Russia war as both side has repeatedly informed the US Following Tsai’s visit, China
cording to the press release from the Washington and Beijing engaged in side after verification that the airship imposed sanctions on two US or-
Indian High Commission in Colombo. tit-for-tat actions. is for civilian use and entered the US ganisations that hosted the Taiwan
Previously, in September 2019 This year, US Secretary of State due to force majeure--it was com- President during her stopover in the
and March 2022, the ship made two Antony Blinken was scheduled to pletely an accident.” US. China’s Ministry of Foreign Af-
trips to Trincomalee as part of an visit Beijing in February to hold talks Following the downing of the fairs announced a ban on Washing-
SLN diver training mission. The on- with the Chinese leadership. Howev- Chinese balloon, China refused to ton-headquartered think tank Hud-
going interaction between Indian Na- er, Blinken’s highly anticipated visit hold talks with US Defence Secretary son Institute and the Ronald Reagan
val vessels and the Sri Lankan Navy to Beijing was postponed after a Chi- Lloyd Austin, highlighting the lack Presidential Library in California
aligns with the Government of India’s nese balloon appeared over the US. of communication channels between from any cooperation, exchange or
‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, which US military fighter jets shot down the two nations. transaction with institutions and indi-
aims to enhance capabilities. the suspected Chinese surveillance According to the Pentagon, the viduals in China.
Last year, India supplied over balloon over the Atlantic Ocean off US Defence Department submitted Furthermore, key leaders of the
270,000 MT of fuel to Sri Lanka so the Eastern Seaboard of the United a request for a call between Austin two organisations were also barred
far to help ease the power crisis in the States, US Defence Secretary Lloyd and China’s Minister of National De- from travelling to China or cooperat-
island country which was witnessing Austin said, CNN reported. fence, Wei Fenghe, after the US fight- ing with organisations or individuals
acute power cuts. Moreover, Sri Lan- Austin announced that Biden er jets shot down the balloon. The there. China’s Ministry of Foreign
ka also signed a USD 1 billion cred- had approved the downing of the Pentagon said that China rejected the Affairs said, “The Hudson Institute
it line with India for procurement of balloon. The Chinese balloon was request of the US. and the Reagan Library have provid-
food, medicines and other essential first spotted in the sky over Montana In the statement, Pentagon ed a platform and facilitated Tsai’s
items, amid the island nation’s wors- and travelled across the middle of the spokesman Brigadier General Pat separatist activities... which seriously
ening economic crisis. The agreement country following weather patterns Ryder said, “We believe in the im- undermine China’s sovereignty and
was signed between the State Bank of before it exited the continental Unit- portance of maintaining open lines of territorial integrity,” CNN reported.

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