A ship carrying cargo from china refuses to leave even after being ordered to leave Sri Lankan waters. As the Chinese ship swayed, so did the diplomatic relationship. Why is this?
The reason is that the item shipped on the ship is faulty. It has also led to a very rare diplomatic clash between the two countries, which are close friends.
The name of the ship in question is Hippo Spirit. Last September, it loaded 20,000 tons of natural fertilizer from china and left for Colombo.
Such natural fertilizer imports were needed last May as the government stopped importing all chemical fertilizers to make sri lanka the world's first fully organic farming country.
This is the first batch of the Sri Lankan government's procurement plan to purchase 99,000 tonnes of natural fertilizer worth US $ 49.7 million from Qingdao Xiw Biotech, a Chinese company specializing in the production of sponge-based fertilizers.
So, what's so controversial about this export made considering the need for natural fertilizer?
"Toxic, Garbage, Pollution"
The problem lies in the quality of the fertilizer. Scientists say it has been proven to be harmful to crops rather than helping them thrive.
They state categorically that the cargo that arrived on the ship could not be allowed into the country as it would endanger the survival of the country.
The company has accused the Sri Lankan media of using derogatory language, including "poison, rubbish, pollution," to tarnish the image of the Chinese government and Chinese companies.
As the controversy intensified, the court ordered the state-owned People's bank to suspend $ 9 million in payments for goods waiting to enter Sri Lanka.
The Chinese embassy in Colombo retaliated. Due to non-payment, the government of sri lanka blacklisted the People's Bank.
While these problems were going on, the ship did not leave Sri Lankan waters.
This makes the message clear. The Chinese company is not ready to withdraw its inventory.
If the cargo returned to china, it would be a disaster for Qingdao and the Chinese government. The company says it exports organic fertilizer to more than 50 countries, including australia and the United States.
Will sri lanka withstand the pressure?
However, some in sri lanka question whether the Sri Lankan government is capable of withstanding Chinese diplomatic pressure.
For example, in 2017, when sri lanka failed to repay a loan taken to build the security-important port of Hambantota, china Merchants Port Holdings leased most of it for 99 years.
Some Western experts say sri lanka is trapped in China's "debt trap."
But no matter how strong China's economy is, Sri Lankan officials are adamant that no natural fertilizer will be allowed into the country in violation of the rules.
Whatever the background to the chemical fertilizer ban, some say the government is now in a crisis.
Sri Lanka is also facing the displeasure of its close ally china, as domestic farmers and experts protest.
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