I’m writing in response to the article “ China debt: Beijing may cut belt and road lending due to domestic pressure, to ensure future of project ” (November 24). I would like to offer some suggestions as to why this situation has arisen. I have read and observed that China does not seem to rigorously adopt the same procedure as adopted by other international lending agencies, such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and Japan International Cooperation Agency. These organisations carry out feasibility studies when a country approaches them for financial help to ensure viability. This is done in good faith to ensure the country can pay back the loan with interest. It helps pre-empt a situation in which the country which obtains the loan later faces problems repaying it, and also saves the lending agency later difficulties in recovering the loan. Some developing countries resort to loans which are not financially viable to fulfil political fantasies. In 2018, there were reports of a port in Kenya being vulnerable to a Chinese takeover, if the country could not repay its loan, which the Chinese and Kenyan governments have denied. There were also reports of Chinese banks seeking collateral due to loan defaults in Zambia. The question arises, if these countries cannot run these projects profitably, how could China? Is this why China is facing financial difficulties and has decided to cut down on belt and road lending? On the other hand, China funding unprofitable ventures makes the borrowing country poorer rather than helping it develop. China turns cautious on lending to Africa amid default crisis fears It would be beneficial for both China and the borrowing country if Chinese lenders adopt the same procedure used by other international lending agencies to ensure the profitability of projects for which funds are sought. G.A.D. Sirimal, Boralesgamuwa, Sri Lanka