The relationship between China and Sri Lanka as a part of the String of Pearls strategy

This article considers the evolution of the relations between China and Sri Lanka, especially their energy and diplomatic components. The article describes the general economic and political situation in Sri Lanka, which is studied as a part of the String of Pearls strategy. The essence of the strategy is the construction of an infrastructure and the strengthening of relations between the states for the expansion of Chinese economic and political presence. For China it is important to diversify and secure oil imports, get an access to the basic resources and provide security of oil shipments from the Middle East. The considerations of energy security made Beijing pay attention to the strategic lines of communication (SLOCs). The unique geopolitical location of Sri Lanka is making this state an important strategic partner for China. Although the changes in the political life of Sri Lanka, the cooperation between Beijing and Colombo is maintaining and developing. A part of the String of Pearls strategy is a construction and development of the infrastructure in Hambantota. Hambantota development initiative originally came from the Government of Sri Lanka. The project was made possible thanks to a successful visit to China in 2007. In the same year, the construction of the port began. China provided the Sri Lankan government a loan for the project to develop the port and oil refinery. By 2010, the construction was completed successfully and the port became operational. For successful and competitive development, Hambantota received the duty-free status of a free port. With the development of Hambantota infrastructure, the economic and social development is moving from the south to the eastern regions of the country, which had previously been delayed due to the ongoing Tamils revolt. In the future, it is expected that the port in Hambantota will become the largest port in South Asia. The construction of the port at the southern point of Sri Lanka is the most efficient and thoughtful decision that turns Hambantota into a key transit and transfer point in Asia. It is considered that this point will not be vital for the energy security, trade and economic development of China. At the same time, the presence near the southern border of China and India in the middle of the Indian Ocean is significant as it provides control over the strategic sea routes. Of course, it is a time-consuming and a long process, because it is necessary to have substantial financial resources, be able to overcome the internal problems in the countries of the region and carry out careful planning aimed at reducing risks.

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