While China wants to build new ports in Sri Lanka, India is digging a channel to separate itself from our island neighbour. And Delhi debates the project in terms of secularism and communalism.

China tries to integrate the regions across its borders through generous economic policies. India is miserly in offering market access for its neighbours. No wonder, Beijing relishes the free ride in India’s frontiers.

Gunboat diplomacy

It was not too long ago that China and the United States announced the restoration of bilateral military exchanges. The well-meaning attempt to build mutual military trust and confidence has been shattered by the refusal of Chinese authorities last month to permit the visit of an American carrier battle group Kitty Hawk to Hong Kong during the American Thanksgiving holiday last month.

The US navy which had brought the families of the crew to Hong Kong was embarassed by the incident. By the time Beijing reversed the decision on ‘humanitarian grounds’ it was too late.

Although China never fully explained the initial rejection of the Kitty Hawk’s visit, it was apparently meant to signal political displeasure at the US arms sales to Taiwan. As the Kitty Hawk headed back to Japan, the US navy retaliated by sailing through the Taiwan straits that separates Chinese mainland from its renegade cousin.

This is the first time in five years that a US aircraft carrier chose to go through the Taiwan straits. While China objected to the move, the US navy said with a straight face that the decision was not political but “based upon operational necessity, including adverse weather”.

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