Sino-phobia in the media

Ever since the rise of China as a world power Sino-phobia has been a weapon of the United States and its allies in undermining the international standing of the People's Republic of China. Though China has shown in word and deed that she does not threaten anyone but is only interested in having good relations with all countries including the United States, Sino-phobia is still being used by the US and its agents and fifth columnists.

Sri Lanka is one of the countries that has good relations with China since historical times. Even with the People's Republic of China our relations have been cordial, especially since the establishment of diplomatic relations after the people's victory in 1956. Sri Lankans still remember how the Rice-Rubber Pact with China helped the country at a critical time in the early 1950's.

Yet those who were spreading Sino-phobia prior to 1956 are still active as seen from various comments in the local press that try to undermine the relations between the two countries.

It is a matter of concern when one newspaper group whose owners are linked to the Opposition try to foul the friendly relations with China with falsehoods and calumny.

A recent comment repeated several times questions the economic relations of Sri Lanka with China. Drawing a false parallel with other foreign aid, it tries to show that Chinese aid has strings or is only beneficial to China. For this purpose baseless allegations are made.

At present China is assisting Sri Lanka in several fields including power generation, port development and tourism. It must also be remembered that China came to our assistance when many traditional Western donors refused to assist us. Unlike the Western donors China did not impose political conditions and did not seek to probe our performance in the political or human rights fields. Its assistance was a great help at the United Nations and the UNHRC in warding off attempts to put Sri Lanka in the dock over the conduct of the war.

Had it not been for the friendly assistance of China it would not have been possible to start the Norochcholai Power Project or the Hambantota Port Development Project. Economic cooperation is on the basis of mutual benefit.

False allegations are levelled that Chinese funded projects involve the employment of Chinese labour to the detriment of local labour. However, the local labour comprises the majority in all Chinese funded projects.

Naturally they contain an element of Chinese labour and consultancy services, which is necessary for easy and efficient completion of the projects. This is nothing unusual as all Western funded projects too have foreign labour components. For example, the Norochcholai Power Project employs over 1,000 local labour. In general, Chinese firms use over 70 percent local labour in their overseas contracts.

The most ludicrous charge, however, is that the Chinese employ prison labour in these projects. This is an absolute untruth. Which country would send its prison inmates to a foreign country and risk its good name being sullied? Most Chinese funded projects are undertaken by private companies.

How could the State entrust them with prison labour. This is part of the global anti-Chinese campaign spearheaded by the CIA.

These mischievous attempts are also aimed at sullying Sri Lanka's relations with India. Conservative sections in the US establishment have been always trying to drive a wedge between the two Asian giants - India and China, using divergencies between them in relation to politics and government. Similarly an attempt is made to portray Sri Lanka's developed relations with China as anti-Indian. These are naive since the two giants are also on a fence mending exercise as they are both interested in developing close cooperation between them on all fields including defence.

It is also pertinent to as why these anti-Chinese propaganda has been unleashed during the election period. Obviously to harness support for the Opposition whose pro-Western bias is public knowledge. Is the Opposition by innuendo suggesting that Chinese help has not helped Sri Lanka and is detrimental to our interests?

China has been maintaining good relations with all governments. It has not interfered in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. Hence, there is no need for Sino-phobia. This campaign only shows for whom these columnists serve.