US Warns of China's "Predatory" Behaviour & Reach in South Asia

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Speaking regarding the US Foreign Policy in the South Asian region, senior officials in the Trump administration sounded an alarm over China’s growing influence in South Asia, specifically highlighting the strategic vulnerabilities of Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The discussion, led by US representative Bill Huizenga, underscored the critical importance of these island nations to the global economy and U.S. national security.

S. Paul Kapur, Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, told the committee that while Sri Lanka and the Maldives are small oceanic states, they possess "outsized importance" due to the geographic location.

Chairman Huizenga noted that approximately 75% of the world’s energy passes within miles of Sri Lanka’s southern coastline.

Assistant Secretary Kapur added that nearly half of all container shipping traverses these same sea lanes, making them vital "slots" for the world economy.

However, during the discussion, officials used Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port as a cautionary tale of "predatory lending."

Assistant Secretary Kapur warned "If you think about Sri Lanka and Hambantota Port, they have a 99-year lease on it. Those are the kinds of dangers we see with Chinese development schemes," 

The U.S. position is that such arrangements limit a country’s "freedom of action" and make them targets for Chinese coercion.

The discussion also focused on the Maldives, particularly the Thilafushi Port.

Kapur confirmed that the U.S. and its Quad partners; India, Japan, Australia have designated it a "port of the future."