Pompeo accuses China of being a ‘predator’ that offers ‘bad deals’ to Sri Lanka and Maldives
- Burst of diplomatic outreach to Sri Lanka, including US secretary of state’s visit, coincides with attempts by US, India and Japan to counter China
- Proposed economic and military pacts between US and Sri Lanka are likely to be on the agenda during Pompeo’s visit
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday brought the Trump administration’s anti-China campaign to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, two Indian Ocean island nations considered particularly at risk for what American officials consider to be Chinese exploitation.
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“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,” Pompeo told a news conference in the capital Colombo.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena appeared unwilling to get involved in the spat with China, and said Sri Lanka was willing to cooperate with all friendly countries.
“Sri Lanka is a neutral, non-aligned country committed to peace,” he said. “We hope to continue in our relations with the United States and with other parties.”