The China-India power rivalry and Sri Lanka

According to early record, Sri Lanka had strong connections with both powers. China and India both link with Sri Lanka for more than 1000 years. Due to Sri Lanka’s geographical location, the country plays a special role within the power rivalry between these two countries. Sri Lanka’s Geo Strategic importance has deeply historical background for many centuries. The Island located in the center of the Indian Ocean. Therefore, it has valuable interest from major powers. Because Sri Lanka being a small state strategically placed between two powerful states India and China. The power rivalry between China and India in Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is a key battleground for their competing ambitions (Wijekoon, 2022). Sri Lanka’s geographical location is most important for both powers to assert their power in the Indian Ocean.

Main key components can be identified and discussed that make Sri Lanka strategically important in the China -India power rivalry.
• Strategic location in the Indian Ocean
• The port network and maritime infrastructure
• Balancing power in South Asia
• Military and security interests
• Important for global energy and global trade
• China’s maritime silk road strategy
• Proximity to India

When studying how the importance of Sri Lanka’s geographical location affects the India-China, Sri Lanka’s central location in the Indian Ocean is extremely important. Therefore Sri Lanka, near major sea lanes of communication. In addition, busiest international shipping routes lie across the Island. The island of Sri Lanka is a major center for communication, trade and naval movement in the Indian Ocean region. (Wijekoon, 2022). Sri Lankan geographical location in the Indian ocean very important for military activities and all oil-thirsty countries in East Asia. More than 80% of the world oil shipments traverse through the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka lies at the fulcrum of East – west maritime trade .Sri Lanka’s port network and maritime infrastructure form one of the most critical elements that elevate its strategic importance in Indo-China power rivalry. Sri Lankan ports are geo strategically important because they lie major sea lanes. Such as Colombo, Hambantota (De Silva, 2023). Trincomalee, Colombo and Hambantota ports are valuable landscape under the commercial and security in Indian Ocean. Due to the security and economic importance of these ports, both countries direct their attention towards Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s location is extremely important for India’s security. India also fearing Sri Lanka connect with other power specially China. Therefore, India wants to build good political and Military Corporation with Sri Lanka (Wijekoon, 2022). Sri Lanka close proximity 30Km from the Indian Ocean. Any external power gaining influence in Sri Lanka has the potential to directly impact India’s maritime security, trade routes and defense planning. India views Sri Lanka as part of its strategic neighborhood, and maintaining friendly relations is essential to protect its southern maritime borders. And also, Indian Ocean one of the busiest are for trade. Sri Lanka located middle of sea routes. Therefore, Sri Lanka is key place for global trade and global energy. Because of this both India and China want strong relations with Sri Lanka for increasing their economic power.
India and China major Asian powers competing for influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka’s geostrategic position is important for balancing power between India and China. As Sri Lanka’s location heart of the Indian Ocean. Close to important global shipping routes that link the Middle East, Africa and Europe with Asia. Therefore, the island a central player in maintaining stability and power balance in the Indian Ocean. China uses investment and infrastructure project and loans. These projects part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it purposes to secure trade route and energy supply (Wignaraja, Panditaratne, Kannangara, and Hundlani). India mainly focusses security cooperation with Sri Lanka. Because through the Sri Lanka’s ports may be a threat India’s maritime security. According to this situation China India both countries need Sri Lanka support for military and economic purpose in Indian Ocean. Therefore, Sri Lanka must follow neutrally foreign policy among both powers.
According to these key factors, concluded that Sri Lanka’s geographical location is a main reason for its importance in the India-China power rivalry.

References
Abeysinghe S,( 2024), Balancing India and China: A case study of Sri Lanka, Journal of verite research
Alahakoon P , (2011) , Trincomalee, a factor to leverage the geostrategic advantage of Sri Lanka, United States -China – India strategic triangle in the Indian Ocean Region.
Attanayake C , (2024) ,Sri Lanka caught in the crossfire of India-China maritime rivalry, Journal of East Asia Forum.
Cheema A T & Jathol H, (2024), Economic Rivalries in Asia: A Case study of India and China, Pakistan Social Sciences Review.
De Silva S (2023), Tightrope Balancing in a time of Rising Great Power Competition: An Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Relations with India and China.

K.M.V.Ravihari
Department of Political science
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Sri Jayewardenepura