China’s deputy envoy to Sri Lanka, Hoo Wei, slammed the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) claiming that on three occasions they had asked to meet with Tamil Leader R Sampanthan and were refused.

“The accusation that China does not maintain relationships with Tamil people cannot be accepted. We had sent invitations three times to the representatives of the Tamil people, the Tamil National Alliance. They did not even have the courtesy to  acknowledge it", Hoo Wei claimed.

China, whilst long defending Sri Lanka against human rights abuses committed against Eelam Tamils at the United Nations, has increasingly turned to make appeals to Tamils in the North and East with an offer to support development projects. Often the TNA has cited security concerns on behalf of the Indian government when responding to these offers.

During a meeting with the Chinese delegation in Jaffna, locals who attended voiced their concerns of China’s involvement.

"China acted against the Tamil people's interests. They did not help the Tamils politically.  They are now trying to get around  Tamils as a strategy against India" voiced a number of locals.

During the final period of the armed conflict, China supplied millions in terms of military aid to the Sri Lankan army which ruthlessly shelled Tamil civilian areas and worked to keep Sri Lanka off the UN agenda. In doing so the Chinese strengthened their ties with the Rajapaksa clan.

China’s envoy has denied allegations of working against the interest of Tamil people.

“We faced many obstacles in approaching the Tamil people. Furthermore, we tried to meet the representatives of the Tamil people, the Tamil National Alliance.  It was not one or two times, we sent invitations to R Sampanthan three times. We told them that we would meet him at his residence. We received no response for the invitations" Hoo Wei noted.