China-US rivalry becomes Aliens vs Predator as Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka takes swipe at Mike Pompeo
- Mission issues spiky retort after US secretary of state accuses Chinese Communist Party of being a predator during visit to Colombo
- China is one of Sri Lanka’s largest trading partners and its largest foreign investor
“Sorry Mr. Secretary @SecPompeo, we’re busy promoting #China-#SriLanka friendship and cooperation, not interested in your #AlienVsPredator game invitation. The US can play two roles at the same time as always,” the mission said on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.
Pompeo spent two days in Sri Lanka after earlier visiting India. The official is on a tour of South Asia as Washington seeks to bolster ties amid China’s growing political and economic influence in the strategically important region.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Pompeo took aim at Beijing and its growing investment in Sri Lanka.
“We see from bad deals, violations of sovereignty and lawlessness on land and sea that the Chinese Communist Party is a predator, and the United States comes in a different way, we come as a friend, and as a partner,” he said.