Editor's Note: Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has worked with all other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, which has boosted confidence and added impetus for development of Asia and the world. For the celebration of the 100th funding anniversary of the CPC, we are launching the “CPC in eyes of foreign military students” series, viewing China and CPC from the perspective of foreign soldiers.
By Sri Lankan Army Lieutenant Colonel Chaminda Wadusinghearachchi
Sri Lanka established diplomatic ties with China as early as the 1950s, and the two countries have maintained a sound bilateral relationship ever since. In 2019, I came to China for a logistics command training program at the PLA Army Logistic University. I had often read western media reports on China, which denigrate the country’s development and make groundless and irresponsible comments on its policies. As evidenced by my personal experience in China, all those reports were not true.
Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese people have eliminate poverty in a short span of 40-plus years, a miracle never seen in human history. No other country in the world has ever achieved such rapid development without engaging in colonialism or aggression of any form. Based on my observations during my stayin China, the Chinese people are living a good life and very patriotic.
The year 2020 was extraordinary. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 hit all countries off guard, but China quickly controlled the spread of the pandemic and resumed its economy in an orderly manner. China’s outstanding performance and success in pandemic prevention and control should be attributed to the efforts of all the Chinese people under the wise leadership of the CPC.
Furthermore, China has provided its independently developed vaccines to many developing countries, bringing them hope to get rid of the quagmire of the epidemic at an early date.
While working hard to develop itself, China also strives for the common development of all countries. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has brought together more than 100 countries including Sri Lanka. There are many China-aid projects in Sri Lanka, most of which are hospitals, roads, and bridges that can directly benefit the local people.The cooperation with China has improved Sri Lanka's infrastructure, increased employment and, more importantly, has no political strings attached.
Sri Lanka has an indelible yet humiliating history of being colonized by several countries. I learned that China ever suffered the same humiliation in history too. Perhaps it is precisely the memory of being colonized by Western powers that has driven China to take the path of peaceful development and seek friendly ties and mutual benefits with other countries instead of pursuing hegemony or expansion.
As early as in the 15th century, Zheng He (1371-1433), the great Chinese adventurer of the Ming Dynasty, led a fleet to visit Sri Lanka to do business and conduct cultural exchanges with Sri Lankan people instead of playing havoc or looting. It’s clear that China has been a nation of civility since ancient times and the so-called “China threat” clamored by western media today is a sheer lie.
China has demonstrated its sense of responsibility as a major country. I know China has a great dream – to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. As the CPC is celebrating its centenary, I hope it will continue to grow and lead China toward greater achievements.
(This article is based on an interview by the PLA Daily with Lieutenant Colonel Chaminda Wadusinghearachchi assigned to the Army from Sri Lanka, who had once studied at China's PLA Army Logistics University.)