I wonder why a lot of people are pinning this debt trap to China only when their lending only amounts to 10% of
Sri Lanka's Foreign debt? Other
sources claim that the figure is up to 26% if you add the amounts owed to Chinese banks. Regardless, this
'China debt trap' sounds more like a propaganda to hide the economic mismanagement of Sri Lankan leaders and paint China as evil (again).
Yeah right, propaganda...
That is the overall debt in the loans Sri Lanka has taken from various entities.
The debt trap refers to things like projects that were constructed by Chinese companies that Sri Lanka never afforded at all, like the whole fiasco where after allowing the Chinese to extend the port of Hambantota for billions while the port was seeing only a few vessels per month, so in order to pay for the debt risen though the construction they had to lease it for free for 99 years to China, in Colombo they had to give them 40-year tax relief for another billion.
The international airport in Mattala, $190 million from a Chinese bank, the airport is no longer having any international routes aside from Abu Dabhi.
You will not see those billion in the graphic since it's not a state-issue bond or debt.
If I scam you with a scheme and you're forced to come up with 10 000 euros which you borrow from the bank, who is to blame for your debt, the bank which holds your debt or me, the one that caused your loss in the first place?
Great example and comments!
The essence of what you said, I hope it will reach the supporters of the fairy tale about the fact that China is "fighting the West" and "helping friends in this fight." China is a very cynical subject! He finds (no offense, but such is the reality) weak "friends", and under sweet speeches, offers them megaprojects. BUT:
- these projects are financed by China
- these projects are implemented in a significant part by China, or rather in the part where it is possible to generate the maximum added value. For example, the local population can also "carry bricks at a construction site" for a penny, but the development of project documentation for millions and hundreds of millions is done by the Chinese.
- as a rule, such objects have no economic value for the country that China has persuaded to such a project, and then China becomes the real owner for a penny, and for a period approximately equal to the design operational life of the object.
Eventually:
- China receives huge interest on loans
- In China, the population is busy with work, and work is expensive
- As a result, China receives the object of sale in its ownership, in fact, for free!
A good lesson for fans of "be friends with China against the West"!
It is China, and not the West, that will undress such countries and make them their slave, and it is guaranteed