{"id":78868,"date":"2022-08-04T00:36:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T04:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=78868"},"modified":"2022-08-04T22:40:35","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T02:40:35","slug":"sri-lankan-president-ranil-wickremesinghe-affirms-nations-commitment-to-the-one-china-policy-and-asks-countries-to-refrain-from-provocations-in-a-messa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=78868","title":{"rendered":"Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe affirms nation\u2019s commitment to the \u2018One China Policy\u2019 and asks countries to \u201crefrain from provocations\u201d, in a message apparently directed to the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nBy<\/p>\n

Meera Srinivasan <\/strong><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday affirmed the island nation\u2019s commitment to the \u2018One China Policy\u2019 and asked countries to \u201crefrain from provocations\u201d, in a message apparently directed to the United States, days after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s controversial visit to Taiwan.<\/p>\n

In a series of tweets, Mr. Wickremesinghe said: \u201cDuring a meeting with H.E. Qi Zhenghong, Ambassador of China, I reiterated Sri Lanka\u2019s firm commitment to the one-China policy, as well as to the UN Charter principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. Countries must refrain from provocations which further escalate the current global tensions. Mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries are important foundations for peaceful cooperation and non-confrontation.\u201d The Chinese Ambassador \u201cdiscussed the manner in which the bilateral relations could be further strengthened,\u201d the President\u2019s office later said in a statement, of their meeting held Wednesday afternoon, hours after Mr. Wickremesinghe delivered his inaugural address following his election as President.<\/p>\n

On July 20, a majority of lawmakers backed the six-time Prime Minister and senior politician for Presidency after the top office fell vacant after mass citizens\u2019 protests ousted former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the wake of a severe economic downturn. Ambassador Qi met Mr. Wickremesinghe on July 22 to convey a congratulatory message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, among the first world leaders to reach out to Mr. Wickremesinghe. \u201cI attach great importance to the development of China-Sri Lanka relations and am willing to provide support and assistance within our capacity to President Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lankan people in their efforts,\u201d President Xi had said in his message.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mr. Wickremesinghe, in his maiden speech as President on Wednesday, highlighted Indian assistance during Sri Lanka\u2019s economic crisis, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and regretted that traditional Sri Lanka-Japan ties had been adversely affected by the [Rajapaksa] government\u2019s opposition to Japanese projects. Notably, China found no mention in the address. He quoted a visiting Tibetan monk who had said the crisis could be solved only through unity.<\/p>\n


\nChinese vessel<\/strong><\/p>\n

The developments come even as Sri Lanka braves a deepening economic crisis and awaits International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance for relief. The IMF has assured Sri Lanka of support, based on its success in restructuring its foreign debt with its creditors, including sovereign bond holders \u2014 to whom Colombo owes nearly half of its external loans \u2014 multilateral agencies, and key bilateral lenders such as China, Japan, and India. The government has also sought bridge financing assistance from India and China to tide over the next few months, but neither partner has responded positively yet.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Colombo appears to be walking a tight rope as the competing geostrategic interests of India and China come to the fore again. Earlier this week, New Delhi raised concern with President Wickremesinghe over the scheduled arrival of Yuan Wang 5 \u2014 a Chinese vessel involved in space and satellite tracking \u2014 at the southern Hambantota Port on August 11. India\u2019s apprehensions \u201cwere discussed\u201d at this week\u2019s Cabinet meeting, a government spokesman said. An official at the Ministry of Defence on Thursday said \u201cthere is no change yet\u201d on the scheduled arrival of the vessel.<\/p>\n


\nCourtesy:The Hindu<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Meera Srinivasan Sri Lanka\u2019s President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday affirmed the island nation\u2019s commitment to the \u2018One China Policy\u2019 and asked countries to \u201crefrain from provocations\u201d, in a message apparently directed to the United States, days after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi\u2019s controversial visit to Taiwan. In a series of tweets, Mr. Wickremesinghe said: …<\/p>\n

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