w*********r
发帖数: 42116 | 1 China's Hambantota Deal Is Bad News For Both Pakistan And India
The Hambantota port expansion begun with loans from China. But when Shri
Lanka could not pay back the loans, Beijing converted these loans to equity,
in essence turning Sri Lanka into a "semi-colony," as was the case with
China’s own Southern ports after she lost a war with European powers--
though in a subtle way.
The taking over of Hambantota by Beijing is bad news for both Pakistan and
India -- for different reasons.
For Pakistan, the deal will serve as a model for the future of CPEC (China–
Pakistan Economic Corridor), a huge transportation network connecting China
to the Arabian Sea at Pakistan’s Gwadar Port. Like Hambantota, CPEC started
with loans that will eventually be converted into equity, as it seems very
unlikely Pakistan will ever be in a position to pay them back. This means
that Beijing will one day own CPEC, and collect tolls from every vehicle
that makes use of it.
For New Delhi, the Hambantota deal is bad news because it’s one more step
to encircle and pacify India by Beijing. China’s enormous investment in
CPEC, and port infrastructure in the Indian Ocean, serves much more than
trade. It advances Beijing’s “String of Pearls” strategy, as well as its
unofficial agenda to encircle India through its arch-rival, Pakistan. |
|
