Beijing Blows Kisses in Geneva: But What Will the Others Say?

Geneva/Colombo – When China’s delegate at the UN Human Rights Council declared this week that Sri Lanka’s path was “for Sri Lankans to decide,” Colombo’s diplomatic mission must have exhaled in relief. Beijing didn’t just stand up for Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s government – it practically wrapped it in a red silk ribbon and told the West to keep its hands off.

But behind the polite language about sovereignty and dialogue, everyone in Geneva knew what was happening. China wasn’t just defending Sri Lanka. It was defending its own billion-dollar foothold in the Indian Ocean, its Hambantota port gamble, its debt restructuring leverage.

The Western Bloc: Here We Go Again

The US, UK, Canada, and the Europeans are already rolling their eyes. To them, China’s glowing praise of Sri Lanka’s “anti-corruption drive” and “independent prosecutor’s office” sounds like sugar coating over a bitter reality: victims of the war still waiting for justice, families of the disappeared still in the streets, and journalists still wary of who’s watching.

Washington will likely sharpen its tone – reminding Colombo that IMF bailouts come with governance conditions. London and Ottawa will mutter about accountability being non-negotiable. Brussels, tied up with trade concessions like GSP+, will weigh its words but won’t stay silent.

Expect statements along the lines of: “We welcome reforms, but cosmetic changes cannot replace credible investigations.”

The Smaller Voices: South Africa, the Fence-Sitters

Then there are the smaller players – South Africa, for example, which once styled itself as a mediator in Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process. Pretoria may quietly say: “Dialogue is good, but victims deserve more than speeches.” South Africa has its own liberation history, its own Truth and Reconciliation brand, and it doesn’t love the sight of Sri Lanka leaning entirely into Beijing’s arms.

Latin American states, often wary of “politicisation of human rights,” may tilt towards China’s line. African states dependent on Chinese investment will nod along. But a few will hedge, saying: “Yes, sovereignty matters – but so do rights.”

Colombo’s Balancing Act

For AKD’s government, China’s bear hug in Geneva is useful but risky. It shields Sri Lanka in the short term, but it also makes Colombo look like it’s outsourcing its moral defence to Beijing. That image doesn’t play well in Western capitals that control markets, aid, and IMF purse strings.

So while Beijing coos about “Clean Sri Lanka” projects, the West will keep asking: “Where’s the justice for the war dead?” And countries like South Africa will whisper: “Don’t just perform sovereignty; deliver reconciliation.”

Gossip in the Corridors

The corridor talk in Geneva goes something like this:

China: “Sri Lanka is a sovereign friend, let it heal in peace.”

US/EU: “Nice slogans, but we still want war crimes accountability.”

India: watching closely, not speaking too loudly, wondering how to keep its own influence intact.

South Africa and a few others: “We’ve danced this dance before – reforms without teeth won’t fool anyone.”

For Colombo, the gossip may sting, but the formula is familiar: smile at Beijing, nod at Brussels, bow to Delhi, and pray Washington doesn’t slam the IMF door.