China and Japan Our True Friends

In the international arena of foreign relations, it was Sri Lanka that championed the cause of both our friends China and Japan. Immediately after the Second World War at the conference in San Francisco USA, the world was taking stock of how and what it should do, to deal with the both Japan and Germany who were defeated by the allied forces. Ceylon’s representative at this meeting, J. R. Jayewardene, appealed to the world community, that we do not believe in the doctrine of an eye for an eye but that we must pardon our enemies in order that all future enmity would gradually disappear and peace restored in the world. This wise counsel was accepted by the world. Hence when the JR government came to power in 1977, it was Japan and the ADB that came forward to help our development efforts.


Similarly, when the colonial powers were driven out of China by their great leader Mao Tse-tung; about 1949, the world community led by the US and its colonial cohorts ostracized China and made it taboo for any country to have anything to do with China. The old colonials denied China’s entry into the UN until 1971, when it was forced to admit that China was a force to reckon with. As China’s very old friend, Sri Lanka all the while supported China’s entry to the UN. In fact the very mention of China in the US, or UK was a dirty word, up to Henry Kissinger’s visit to China, in the latter part of Nixon’s presidency in 1973. Notwithstanding this embargo on China, Sri Lanka, (then Ceylon) boldly ventured to sign a Rubber for Rice Agreement with its true friend China, as early as 1953, under Sir John Kotelawela. This was subsequent to the US refusing to give Sri Lanka its due price for its rubber. Hence it was Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, which was in fact the first country to boldly engage and trade with China in defiance of a world community boycott. Quite rightly China is beholden to our uprightness in breaking the unofficial trade embargo placed on it. During this period, no country, even in Asia dared to have anything to do with China for fear of reprisals from the old Colonials. This trade pact between China and Ceylon (Sri Lanka) gave China the needed fillip to begin trading with other countries.

Subsequently it was after 1956 that our ties with China were further strengthened and its goodwill towards Sri Lanka is unmatched in aid without any strings. China’s gift of the Bandaranaike Memorial Internationally Conference Hall is well known. There are hundreds of Chinese aided projects in Sri Lanka. In recent times, China’s close co-operation during the final years of the terrorist war is incomparable. Apart from the Noracholai Power plant and Hambantota Harbour and Airport projects, Sri Lankans have no qualms about hooking up with their sincere Chinese friends. Quite unlike others, they have no ulterior motives.

It is a pity that some countries don’t understand our very special relationship with China, which is a good example of the type of relationship that countries must maintain in international affairs. (The Island)