China donates warships to Sri Lanka and Philippines in drive to expand regional influence
China will donate warships to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in the latest effort to boost its military influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The gift of a frigate to Sri Lanka was announced last week by Senior Colonel Xu Jianwei, military attaché at the Chinese embassy in Colombo, while Philippine naval spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata confirmed the donation of four new patrol boats from Beijing on Sunday.
The People’s Liberation Army will also provide “various training” to the Sri Lankan military and build an auditorium complex at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Xu told an event last Monday, the Colombo Gazette reported.
On Sunday Zata said China would also give the Philippines 200 rocket propelled grenade launchers and ammunition, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Despite the unresolved South China Sea dispute with Manila, China has offered military aid worth US$14 million in small arms and fast boats to the Philippines, and donated thousands of rifles and ammunition to the Philippine police and military for counter terrorist purposes.
China’s efforts to expand its military presence in the region have caused concern in India, which fears that it may use Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port for military purposes even though the concession contract that handed control to a Chinese firm last year prohibits this.
“China has had close military connections with Sri Lanka since the campaign against the Tamil Tigers in the 2000s,” said Wang Dehua, a South Asian expert at the Shanghai Municipal Centre for International Studies.
“India also has donated many armaments to South Asian countries, including warships to Sri Lanka. Why cannot China do the same? Sri Lanka is in need and China is able and willing to provide assistance,” Wang said.
No details have been released about the frigate given to Sri Lanka, but Chinese military analysts believe it is likely to be a type C28A or C13B corvette, or even a newly retired type 053 frigate.
The three classes are the most common Chinese warships exported to other countries, with buyers including Algeria, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Third world countries that have bought Chinese warships regard them as affordable and cost-efficient, according to Zhou Chenming, a Beijing-based military commentator.
“It is possible China will give [Sri Lanka] one or two more,” said Zhou. “This one single ship would not make much difference to the current regional military balance in South Asia, and it will be mainly used for anti-piracy purposes.”
Zhou also argued that China had been supporting its ship building industry in the wake of the global downturn, with the navy expanding and upgrading its fleet.
“It has been common practice for the government and military to place orders to sustain those industries in the recession,” said Zhou.
Zhou added these ships were relatively cheap to build and the ships given to other countries could became profitable for China in the long term through refitting and maintenance.
(South China Morning Post)
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- NDC graduation ceremony highlights new approach to national security November 19, 2024
- Sri Lankan President urges IMF to balance economic recovery with citizen needs November 19, 2024
- Sri Lankan President Dissanayake urges new cabinet to lead responsibly November 18, 2024
- Ravi Karunanayake nominated as NDF national list MP November 18, 2024
- Supreme Court suspends release of 2024 Grade 5 scholarship exam results November 18, 2024
Great. The nut case leading the Philippines will get even more aggressive than he is now with his new toys. As for Sri Lanka, What do we need warships for? who are we going to Attack?. I am sure these war ships are old out dated ones that they want to get rid of.
I wonder how the west will take this news. Looks like MY3 will fall out with the US and the UK after this deal. Especially after the very generous gift to MY3 from the Chinese leader not so long ago.
Good. It is a choice of sticking with one powerful ally and keep the head out of water and develop without being bullied to bend to every wishes of all international bullies you go and beg for donations and loans to survive, or being like Japan or Singapore.
Non-align is dead and joke. Nobody give a hoof about you.
Indra. Why you want to get support from China or any other country? Can’t we look after our self.
Oh Ranjith,
Are you so naive to even imagine Sri Lanka can be without assitance and borrowing after so many years of war. Even USA has borrowed heaps of money from China.
We looked after ourselves since 1948!
Some reading may help understanding.
It seems like every American politician and talking head is concerned by the huge amounts of debt that the U.S. government owes Chinese lenders. The Chinese do own a lot of U.S. debt — $1.168 trillion as of January 2018.
Read more: China Owns US Debt, but How Much? | Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/080615/china-owns-us-debt-how-
As Ranjith says, we have the choice of existing with dignity or be slaves to the rich.
Most monies borrowed are abused by corrupt leadership and for providing luxury vehicles to leaders
Stanley
You can borrow as much as you can and buy luxury cars etc. But who is going to pay back. Your children? Do you like your children to working as slaves in foreign countries to pay back the debt. Do you want dangerous medicine to be tested on people as wanted by the parasitical companies who supply these loans through the banks. Stand up and die man rather than bending down and living.
Stanley
There are two types of borrowing money. Sri Lanka borrowing money to re pay the expensive loans and just to exist .(To pay the 95% over staffed work force). America borrow to invest.
By bank pay me 5% on saving and when I went to buy a car he said to leave my money as it is and the car company gave me a loan at 2%. So I save 3%. Here I borrowed money .
So who is going to pay for the shortfall. It is yore children, grand children working as slaves in foreign countries.