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China is a wise country and if you have a relationship with them as a country, they are ready to give you loan to help grow your country without much interest but what I noticed is that many country take the opportunity to keep borrowing money from them and mostly lavish the money without using it to grow there country.
China may have a bigger economy that the United States some day because even the United States depend on China for some certain raw materials to grow there assets. In the next 20 years China might become the world biggest economy so far.
It has been cited many times that China is not an investor, China is an enslaver of the economies of countries that dare to engage with it. The "best" example is China's investment in Sri Lanka, which ended up causing huge problems, mounting debts, and dashed hopes. And this is not the only example. You can very easily find documented information on what "partnering with China" leads to. All of China's investments are to absorb the economies of "friends" and generate huge debts for them....
It is true that china uses its economic power to get influence over a country but we can not blame only them for a countries financial instability. China didn't force any countries to take loan from them and they do something similar that the IMF and world bank do. They charge interest over their loan and if that country can not pay off their debt then they use it as a soft power to control that country's geopolitical decisions.
What happens with Sri Lanka is because of their corrupt government. Their loan was for a sea port that can not generate enough profit to pay off its debt. Corrupt government and politicians have done this and there can be chinease influence as well. But what I can see is china has a great contribution to many 3rd world countries infrastructure development like bridge, school, port, road and many others. They don't do it for free nor the western power. So it is the countries responsibility to use the money in the best way possible so that it can generate enough money to pay off the debt taken from china or other country or institutions.
I will assume that you do not quite understand what China is doing and how it is supposedly “investing” in other countries. About the port - thanks for reminding me, and this will be the best example. Let me now tell you how this “project” happened in reality? And then you take this scheme and compare it with other “investment projects in China.” You will be surprised - “everything is like a tracing paper”...
So, what does the scheme of Chinese “friendship” and “investment” look like, using the example of a port:
China is offering Sri Lanka a major international project: a large cargo port, similar to the Singapore maritime cargo hub. Everything looks logical - a good geographical location - located at the intersection of sea routes between Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania... Yes, the project is complex and expensive and requires attracting investments. Now let's watch our fingers!
1. China says - dear friend Sri Lanka, we are ready to help you and make such a project and invest in it. When the port starts operating, we will all get rich, both you and us! OK ? Let's sign the contract!
2. And this is where the nuances begin. Yes, we will give cheap loans, but there are some conditions. For example: development of project documentation will be done by Chinese companies. OK ? OK ! Oh, and one more small request - will the main contractors, construction and engineering companies, also be Chinese? Well, what's the difference? Well, stop it, we have experience, everything will be fine! Oh, and one more thing, just a trifle - will Chinese companies also supply construction materials and equipment? No, why are you going to strain yourself? We will bring everything, everything will be fine, just sew bags for the money that we will soon earn!
3. Very soon all documents are signed. Let's pay attention to what:
- economic feasibility study/business plan, from a Chinese company
- technical documentation, from a Chinese design company
- contracts for work and supplies with Chinese companies
- an investment agreement with specified obligations. Of course, a separate section is the obligations of the country receiving the investment, financial obligations, as well as the creation of all conditions for launching the project,
4. And the “great construction” begins. where Sri Lanka finds itself in the role of an “auxiliary worker”, i.e. provides only land and labor. At the same time, the volume of Sri Lanka's financial obligations amounts to, for example, $10 billion. This is a loan that China gives them. Let's remember this.
And then it turns out that a significant part of the CREDIT goes to pay for the services of... yes, Chinese contractors.
And then events develop like this:
- suddenly some nuances emerge that increase the cost of the work and require urgent decisions, because “Sri Lanka did not provide some information” or something similar.... And if you decide quickly, then this can only be done... Yes, yes, yes! Only Chinese contractors!
And another part of the CREDIT goes... back to China.
- but the project is nearing completion, everything is fine, if you do not pay attention to the nuances mentioned above. But this is not the end yet...
Final: the project is finished, the port is built, the “red ribbon has been cut”, and everyone is standing on the shore and trying to hear the “clink of coins”... But, as you begin to guess, it is NOT HEARD!
And then the country that received such assistance begins to ask questions - where is the income? Where is the implementation of the business plan? Why doesn't anyone come to the port??? What's happening
And the Chinese representatives, hiding a smile, say - “oh... well, you understand... there are probably some external factors, or YOUR MISTAKES, that do not allow you to reach the calculated indicators.” At the same time, they are silent that service contracts are deliberately delayed, and “recommendations” like “do not interact with the facility at the moment” are sent (this is where corruption and whatever you like).
After 6-12 months, China turns to Sri Lanka with the words “friends! We have fulfilled our obligations, but you have not. The project looks like you are to blame for everything that is happening. And by the way - when will you repay the loans, and most importantly HOW, if the project only brings losses for maintenance!?".
Do you feel where the dialogue is going? No ? Then let's listen to what happens next:
China says “guys, we need you OUR money” (most of which didn’t even leave China), let’s either pay, or read the contract - there are fines, and you pay them too! For some time, Sri Lanka has been frantically searching for a solution. But no one will help someone who is “stuck” in Chinese investments. NO ONE WILL HELP, because... They understand perfectly well what kind of project this is!
And when the “hour of reckoning” comes with money that does NOT exist, China says, “we are friends! Why are we going to bankrupt you? Let’s do it this way - we don’t charge interest. The body of the loan remains, and you ... sell the port to us for 10% of the its cost? If not, then tomorrow you will pay with interest, and we will block the port through international courts until everything is paid in full, and you will bear huge costs for its maintenance, by the way, this is spelled out in the contract."
Total:
Sri Lanka has $10 billion in debt.
From China:
- 10 billion in income over 3-5-10 years.
- 5 billion went to Chinese companies (salaries/taxes/business development/...)
- “Investor-friendly” status.
This is what the real picture of “Chinese investment” looks like