A Study On The Criticism Of “Chinese Debt Trap Theory”:From The Perspective Of Sri Lanka

Since 2016,the "Debt Trap Diplomacy" on China’s " The Belt and Road " construction during the international community has become increasingly popular.The core arguments can be summarized in the following points: First,China has violated international financial rules by providing commercial loans to countries along the "The Belt and Road" without repaying abilities in an extremely high interest rate and an opaque way.Second,China’s investments which are often led by Chinese government agencies and state-owned enterprises by using Chinese materials and labor,doesn’t effectively promote local economic development since loans and investments proceeds ultimately flow back to China.Third,loans and investments from China bring heavy debt burden to the detor countries.Once these countries are unable to repay the debts,China will take the opportunity to seize important national strategic resources such as ports and finally achieve the geopolitical goal of controlling and external expansion.In the popularization of these arguments,many international media have taken the issue of the port of Hambantota in Sri Lanka as a "typical case" of "China’s Debt Trap Diplomacy".the Chinese government has repeatedly argued in response that these arguments are propaganda of the West with ulterior motives,and that "China’s debt trap" problem does not exist,however ignores the perspective of the debtors themselves.This paper takes Sri Lanka as a typical case to analyze the historical origin and causes of the debt problem between China and Sri Lanka,and comprehensively analyzes the spread of China’s "Debt Trap Theory" in Sri Lanka from the perspective of the government,the media and the public and then discuss how to clarify misunderstandings under public diplomacy and resolve the "Debt Trap Diplomacy" in "The Belt and Road" construction.The text is divided into four chapters:The first chapter mainly discusses the theory origin,development and dissemination of China’s "Debt Trap Theory" by analyzing the sponsors of two theories: "Debt Trap" and "Debt Imperialism",the origin,main content,worldwidespread and its essence.The second chapter introduces the history of "The Belt and Road" construction cooperation between China and Sri Lanka and the current situation of Sri Lanka’s debt problem.Clarify the origin of China’s debt problem in Sri Lanka through historical research and case analysis and accurately describe the status quo of Sri Lanka’s debt problem and impact on economic development through analyzing relevant data from the central bank of Sri Lanka,the state port authority,the foreign affairs department and other institutions.The third chapter describes and studies views on " China’s Debt Trap" in Sri Lanka from multiple perspectives by the ways of text research and quantitative analysis.First,collect and sort out the relevant remarks on China’s "Debt Trap" made by senior officials of Sri Lanka’s government in power since 2015 and analyze its characteristics.Secondly,collect relevant reports of mainstream English medias in Sri Lanka such as daily news,daily mirror and today Ceylon and sort out into different emotional tendencies for analyzing separately.Thirdly,through questionnaire,probe into cognition of China’s "Debt Trap" of the public in Sri Lanka from the perspective of public opinion.The fourth chapter mainly explores the reasons for the disseminatation of "China’s Debt Trap Diplomacy" in Sri Lanka.First of all,explain the reasons for China’s "Debt Trap Theory" widely spreading in Sri Lanka through analyzing existing debt problems,colonial historical memory,asymmetry of national power,promotion from opposition,low participation in Sri Lankan project construction,exaggeration of western and Indian and other factors,Then,discuss how to promote the communication communication,misunderstandings elimination and further development of "The Belt and Road" in two countries through public diplomacy.