Sri Lanka recently announced a one-year suspension of allowing foreign research vessels to conduct survey activities in its waters or exclusive economic zone from January 2023. Among them, the Chinese scientific research ship "Xiangyanghong 3" applied in early January 2024, but was rejected by Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka informed all relevant countries of this decision and explained two reasons: one is that 2024 is an election year for Sri Lanka, and the visit of foreign research ships may bring great pressure to ** and cause serious damage to the geopolitical situation and political ecology;Secondly, Sri Lanka hopes to use this year to develop its own marine research capabilities in order to participate in future international scientific research activities and as an equal partner.
However, India** magnified this decision and called it a diplomatic victory for India, arguing that Sri Lanka's decision was to avoid offending India and to show neutrality. However, this view ignores India's interference in the sovereignty and internal affairs of South Asian countries and uses the Indian Ocean as its own maritime hegemony. The incident reaffirmed India's attempts to expand its political influence in South Asia, and India's uneasy reaction to China's influence in the South Asian island nations.
India has long sought to maintain its unrivaled control and influence in South Asia. However, China has gradually gained significant political influence among South Asian countries. This makes it difficult for India to accept that South Asian countries are no longer obedient to orders, and South Asian countries are beginning to cooperate with China and seek win-win development. Therefore, India has taken a tough stance and is trying to interfere with normal cooperation between China and South Asian countries by interfering in the affairs of these countries. India has even made up ridiculous lies that the Chinese research ship is a spy ship in an attempt to undermine China's relations with the South Asian island nations.
However, this hard-line approach will not win back the South Asian countries, but will push them further and further. Compared with China, India has always treated these countries as slave owners, disregarding the sovereignty and self-interests of these countries, and demanding that they can only do this and not that. Practice has proved that China can use its strong Belt and Road Initiative and economic strength to achieve win-win cooperation with South Asian island countries to jointly develop their economies and improve people's livelihood. However, India, which does not possess the same industrial capacity and economic power as China, and therefore cannot provide substantial benefits, tries to treat these countries in a hegemonic manner. Such an approach will inevitably not be exchanged for sincere treatment by South Asian countries.
Despite India's long-standing influence in the region, it has come a long way for South Asian countries to no longer be completely subordinate to them. This shows that South Asian countries have realized the importance of their own interests, have begun to choose partners on their own initiative, and are no longer swayed by India's interference.
Sri Lanka's decision to refuse access to Chinese research vessels does not mean that it will re-choose India as a partner and abandon China. In fact, South Asian countries such as Sri Lanka have come to realize that cooperation with China can lead to equal treatment and opportunities for common development, while India's hegemonic behavior will only push them further away.
Sri Lanka's decision to deny Chinese research vessels access to its waters is seen by India** as its own diplomatic victory, however, this decision is mainly based on Sri Lanka's internal considerations and the development of its own capabilities. India has tried to maintain its hegemony in the region by interfering in the sovereignty and internal affairs of South Asian countries, but this tough stance will not be exchanged for genuine kindness from South Asian countries. In contrast, China has gained enormous political influence by cooperating with South Asian island nations on an equal footing and through win-win cooperation. South Asian countries are gradually realizing the importance of their own interests and are beginning to choose partners on their own initiative. Although India has some control and influence in South Asia, South Asian countries have begun to break free from India's control and hope to work with China to develop their economies and improve people's livelihoods. India's meddling will only further push South Asian countries away from India. As a result, the situation in South Asia has changed, and India needs to face up to this fact and establish an equal and mutually beneficial relationship with China in order to achieve common prosperity and development.