Responding to a statement by US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B. Teplitz, which expressed concern over Sri Lanka’s trading relationship with China, China’s Embassy in Sri Lanka has hit back against claiming it was a “despicable attempt to manipulate others” diplomatic relations.
The Chinese embassy further attacked the US claiming that it was guilty of applying a double standard. They went on to offer “helpful advice”
“-Don’t slander other countries’ work in fighting pandemic while topping the world in COVID-19 cases.
- Don’t pretend the guardian of free trade while violating the WTO rulings;
- Don’t hold up high the banner of transparency while covering up its controversial MCC agreement;
- Don’t smear other’s normal cooperation against sovereignty while bombing foreign countries, occupying overseas military bases and imposing unilateral sanctions”.
The Embassy concluding by maintaining that the US ought to end its “hypocritical behaviour” as it continues to “damage its poor international reputation which is already hanging by a thread.”
US Statement
The statement from China was in response to an interview of US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina B. Teplitz, which expressed concern over Sri Lanka’s trading relationship with China and emphasised the importance of “free trade and a fair investment climate”.
In her statement, she highlighted that according to a 2019 World Bank study more than 60 per cent of PRC-funded BRI projects are allocated to Chinese companies. The processes behind this are not transparent.
“The World Bank called for open and transparent public procurement to increase the likelihood that BRI projects are allocated to the firms best placed to implement them. Sri Lankan think tank Verité Research analysed 50 high-value loans from the PRC to Sri Lanka. All but one loan (where data was available) were 100 per cent “tied” – meaning the loan terms dictated that contracts and tenders be awarded to Chinese contractors, limiting the ability of Sri Lankan and global firms to compete for these projects. Fair competition would lower prices and ensure better quality,” she said.
Read more here: US raises concerns over Sri Lanka-China trade
Read the Chinese Embassy’s statement in full here.
Read Teplitz’s original interview with Daily Mirror here.
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