By A. Jathindra Courtesy Eurasia Review

We will not allow ourselves to be used against India – we will get help from anyone – on that basis we received help from China – for that China cannot use us to threaten India’s national security in the maritime area – we will not allow that,” stated the President of the Northern Province Rural Fishermen’s Association during a media briefing held in Jaffna recently, as reported by Eelanadu, a local Jaffna-based media outlet, on February 19, 2024.

Meanwhile, Jaffna-based local media has reported that fishermen from the Northern islands — Delft, Nainathivu, Eluvaithivu, Mandaithivu, Kayts, and Punkudithivu — plan to protest in front of the Fisheries Department office in Jaffna on the 27th of this week to condemn the encroachment of Indian fishermen. Earlier this month, senior Chinese embassy officials met with representatives of fishermen leaders at a hotel in Jaffna where the delegation was briefed on difficulties, particularly bottom trawling by Indian fishermen in the Northern Sea.

The categorization of Indian Fishermen’s Encroachments” and the opposition from Northern Fishermen” has paved the way for China’s involvement in this situation. Furthermore, this situation has the potential to heighten tensions between India and China in the Indian Ocean region. China appears to be trying to create the appearance of sympathy for the northern fishermen who are suffering from the encroachment of Indian fishermen. It should not be underestimated that sympathy shown to those affected may eventually turn into goodwill towards those who show sympathy.

The Northern Province fishermen’s associations have long alleged that their livelihoods are being affected by South Indian fishermen. However, there is a continuing stalemate in finding a permanent solution to this issue. South Indian fishermen continue to be arrested, and their belongings confiscated by Sri Lankan authorities. When South Indian fishermen are arrested, it is politicized in Tamil Nadu, while Northern fishermen in Sri Lanka continue to condemn and protest against the poaching by South Indian fishermen. This issue has also become a domestic political issue on both sides. New Delhi continues to insist on a humanitarian approach to this issue.

While the issue remains unresolved, antipathy towards Indian fishermen has strengthened among the coastal community in the Northern Province. In the past, the fishermen associations have also been involved in protests in front of the Consulate General of India, Jaffna in Sri Lanka. In a way, this issue has become a domestic factor for leveling accusations against India. It was against this backdrop that the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka reached out to the fishermen of the Northern Province and extended to the Eastern Province. However, historically China had never extended its helping hands to Tamils in the North and Eastern provinces until 2021.

In December 2021, the Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong visited Jaffna for the first time. It was seen as an initial visit to gauge the mindset of Tamils in the North. During the trip, the Ambassador, wearing a Vesti (Hindu Traditional cloth) paid homage with Jaffna devotees at the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple, which is seen as a cultural symbol of the Jaffna middle class. Similarly, the Chinese Ambassador also visited the Jaffna Library, which is seen as a symbol in Tamil nationalist politics.

During this visit, China provided dry food items worth 20 million to the fishing community affected by Indian fishermen and granted Rs 1.5 billion worth of humanitarian assistance, which included a prefabricated housing scheme, fishing equipment, and packets of rice for fisherfolk communities in the Northern and Eastern provinces. This is only the start, the first phase,” Zhenhong promised fishermen in Jaffna.

In 2023, Zhenhong emphasized that No matter what kind of challenges and difficulties you face, the Chinese people will firmly stand with you, no matter in the past, now, or in the future,” Qi Zhenhong told a public gathering in Jaffna. He added further, We have great potential… Chinese investors and entrepreneurs have great interest in coming to the Northern Province. I hope the Northern Province also warmly welcomes Chinese investors and tourists to come to the Northern Province.”

The Chinese Ambassador was the first foreign diplomat to visit the North following the general election in November 2024 and appreciated that Tamils had made ‘a correct decision’ in helping the ruling National People’s Power (NPP), a cadre-based Marxist-Leninist party in Sri Lanka. Historically, northern-based Tamils have largely voted for Tamil parties that represent Tamil nationalism, but for the first time, they turned towards a deep south-based national party.

When it comes to the question of the ethno-politics of Sri Lanka, it is ironic that the Chinese embassy, which tactfully dismisses the issue with the rhetoric of ‘we do not interfere in the internal affairs’ of other countries, now says that China welcomes the Tamil people voting for the NPP. There is a hidden point in this too. India has always had a ‘say’ in the ethnic question of the Tamil people. If the Tamil people turn towards a national party, then China can also assume that India will no longer have a voice in the Tamil issue.

It is clear that China, which initially showed its main interest only in the Southern part of Sri Lanka, is now showing greater interest in the North and East provinces as well. After Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power, the political environment pushed Colombo further into China’s lap. According to sources, the Gotabaya Rajapaksa government facilitated several Chinese ventures in northern Sri Lanka. During Rajapaksa’s tenure, his main point of contact, Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath, was keen to closely work with China. She convinced them of potential investment projects as well as plans of land available for Chinese projects, including land belonging to the Trincomalee Harbour and investment using Pulmoddai mineral sand. She also advocated for collaboration with Yunnan province of China. Even after being removed from governorship by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, she met with the Governor of Yunnan Province, China, Wang Yubo, who appreciated her efforts to develop the relationship between Yunnan province and the Eastern Province.

Apart from the efforts of the Eastern governor, China was eager to seek spaces to enhance its foothold in the Eastern province. When Ambassador Qi visited the Kayakerni archaeological site in the Eastern Province, he highlighted that Sri Lanka’s eastern coast has always been an important global trade hub on the Maritime Silk Road.

Why does China want to make inroads into the North and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka? Definitely, the answer is not for economic benefit. Many of India’s major strategic investment projects are based in the North and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Against this backdrop, China is seeking loopholes to increase its involvement in these provinces. According to the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, the North and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka are identified as the historical habitation of Tamil-speaking people, who have ethnically, linguistically, and culturally intertwined relationships with South India. In the understanding of the international connection of Tamils, India has always been the primary focus. China definitely would not underestimate this. However, China may consider this situation to be potentially reversible. It is imperative that India approaches this situation with the utmost seriousness.

• This article was published at The Centre for Strategic Studies — Trincomalee