Joint development at Colombo port: Japan-India etc. - China glares at it

Recently the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Electronic Edition reported the following:

コロンボ港、日印などで共同開発　中国にらみ

【イブニングスクープ】

政治 南西ア・オセアニア

2019/5/20 18:00日本経済新聞　電子版

Colombo port in Sri Lanka         (Source:CNN)

政府はインド、スリランカと共同で、スリランカにあるコロンボ港を共同開発する。夏までに3カ国で覚書を交わし、2019年度中にも工事に着手する方針だ。コンテナの取扱量を増やし、南アジア地域の物流拡大につなげる。広域経済圏構想「一帯一路」を進める中国の動きをにらみつつ、日本が唱える「自由で開かれたインド太平洋構想」を後押しする。

スリランカ西部に位置するコロンボ港は同国の海運貨物の9割を扱う。欧州や中東、アフリカ地域とアジアを結ぶ海上物流の一大拠点だ。コンテナ取扱量は南西アジア最大規模で、17年は20フィートコンテナ換算で621万個を取り扱った。南西アジア地域の経済成長で取扱量は年々増えており、同港の処理能力は限界を迎えている。

3カ国が整備するのはコロンボ港を新たに拡張した地域にあるコロンボ南港の東コンテナターミナルだ。水深を深くし大型コンテナ船が入港できる施設を整える。事務レベル協議を進めており、夏までに事業規模や運営形態、参加企業などを詰める。事業費の一部は政府開発援助（ODA）を充てる方針だ。

中国はインド洋やその周辺で影響力を強めている。中国からの巨額融資で整備されたスリランカ南部のハンバントタ港は融資返済の見通しが立たず、99年間にわたって港湾や周辺用地が中国に貸与されることが決まっている。日本政府関係者は「コロンボ港の整備が遅れると、その分の積み荷はハンバントタに移ることになりかねない」と指摘する。

日本にとってシーレーン（海上交通路）に位置するインド洋沿岸国の港湾機能が充実すれば海上保安能力も向上し、タンカーや商船の安全確保につながる。太平洋からインドにまたがる地域で経済や安全保障の協力を進める日本政府の「自由で開かれたインド太平洋構想」とも合致する。

Translation

The [Japanese] government would in collaboration with India and Sri Lanka jointly develop a port in Colombo of Sri Lanka. Memorandums would be exchanged among these three countries by the summer, and construction would begin in 2019. It increased the handling volume of containers which could lead to an expansion of logistics in South Asia. While noting China’s moving towards promoting its "One Belt One Road" concept, this project would supported a "Free and open Indo-Pacific concept" advocated by Japan.

Colombo port which located in western Sri Lanka handled 90% of the country's shipping cargo. It was a major maritime logistics hub connecting Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Container handling volume here was the largest in South West Asia, handling 7.21 million pieces in 20-foot container equivalent in 2017. With an economic growth in the South-West Asia region, the volume handled was increasing year by year, and the processing capacity of the port was reaching its limit.

The three countries would develop the East Container Terminal of Colombo South Port which located in an area where Colombo Port had newly expanded. The water depth was deepened, facilities for large container vessels to enter had been prepared. Administrative level consultations were proceeding and would sort out by summer regarding the scale of operations, types of operation, and the companies participating. A part of the project cost would be assigned from the Official Development Assistance (ODA).

China had become more influential in and around the Indian Ocean. Hambantota Port in the southern part of Sri Lanka, which had been developed with a large-scale loan from China, had no prospect of making loan repayments. It had been decided that the port and the surrounding land would be lent to China for 99 years. A Japanese official said, "If the completion of Colombo Port is delayed, the affected cargo may be transferred to Hambantota."

For Japan, if the port functioning of the Indian Ocean coastal countries located in the sea lane (sea transportation route) was enhanced, their maritime security capability would be improved, and this could ensure the safety of tankers and commercial vessels. It was also consistent with the "Free and open Indo-Pacific Initiative" of the Japanese government in promoting economic and security cooperation in the region that was now spreading in the Pacific Ocean and India.

     So, Japan and India are countering the effort of China in dominating the sea route around the Indian Ocean.