China insisted there was no hidden agenda behind the China funded projects in Sri Lanka. The Chinese Embassy in Colombo, responding to a report on The Sunday Morning newspaper, said that China has maintained good relationships with Sri Lanka and that the projects have no conditions attached to them. An Embassy spokesperson said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China has maintained good relations with successive governments of Sri Lanka and carried out a large number of pragmatic cooperation projects, which have greatly improved Sri Lanka’s economic and social development. “The pragmatic cooperation between our two countries under the framework of the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative always adheres to the basic rule of ‘Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution, and Sharing Benefit’, which never attaches any political, ideological, or military conditions. All cooperation projects, including the ports, airports, power stations, and industrial park, are proposed by successive governments of Sri Lanka in accordance with the practical demands and future development needs of Sri Lanka’s economic and social progress on the basis of thorough scientific demonstration. The ultimate goal of our cooperation is to bring tangible benefits to the people of Sri Lanka,” the spokesperson said. The Chinese Embassy added that China-Sri Lanka pragmatic cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative does not depend on one party’s decision, or on an individual’s will, but the most fundamental driving force is whether it is conducive to economic and social development and the overall interests of the China-Sri Lanka friendship. The Sunday Morning reported that Western missions in Sri Lanka are monitoring the Chinese ‘invasion’ of the country over fears that the Chinese may have a hidden agenda in the country. At least two Western missions based in Colombo are keeping a close watch on the Chinese in Sri Lanka through their respective intelligence agencies. Apart from the two western missions, India is also known to be monitoring China’s involvement in Sri Lanka. After making their way into Sri Lanka in a big way during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s term as President, the Chinese have established themselves in Sri Lanka through a wide range of projects. The main concern that the western missions have is that the Chinese may use their presence in Sri Lanka to meet their military agenda.