China-Sri Lanka Relation: Strategic Partnership or Debt Trap?

China has significantly increased its global influence, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, with Sri Lanka emerging as a focal point in this expansion⸺, as China's economic diplomacy has played a pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between the two countries in recent years. However, despite the positive developments, critics argue that the relationship may not merely be based on a strategic partnership but could involve the risk of a ‘debt trap’, as the large-scale loans extended by China, have become challenging for the latter to repay, this have raised questions about the long-term consequences of such financial engagements. This paper makes an attempts to explore the real motivations behind China’s economic involvement with Sri Lanka, applying the theory of realism as proposed by Hans J. Morgenthau. The study will employ a qualitative approach, drawing on secondary sources such as academic articles, journals, and other relevant literature. Through a thorough analysis, the paper concludes that the China-Sri Lanka relationship is driven primarily by national interests and power dynamics, which closely align with Morgenthau’s principles of Realism. These dynamics shape the bilateral ties in ways that reflect the broader strategic interests of both countries.