That open checkbook is tough to emulate for us/make counter offers. The open checkbook is there because they don't care to be a developed country and happily spend the money to uplift their people, into these foreign projects.
As the second highest GDP they are lagging behind terribly in key indicators of where they need to be with their HDI, living standards/quality of life reflecting that 2nd highest GDP.
Time and demographics are not on their side. These countries will revolt against them loan sharking the projects and taking over sovereign lands at some point.
They are at risk of being looked as economic colonizers through this open checkbook.
Beyond Sri Lanka, there are more examples of how they weaponize their money -
China’s Interest in Africa Raises Concerns of Senate Panel
The U.S cannot lower standards for its citizens to then compete on these high rate loans china handouts
Take China's per capital GDP, for example. It stood at U.S.$6894.50 in 2016 -- 55% below the world's average,
according to Tradingeconomics.com.
Then there's corruption which is ranked among the poorest countries, and nowhere near rich countries like the U.S.
Then there's pollution.China is the
world’s top producer of carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas - a status that isn’t expected to change anytime soon, as China’s government is part of the problem rather than the solution.
5 Causes of Poverty in China
All of the above means they are willing to sacrifice quality of life at home for their hegemony in sovereign lands, via that checkbook.
enter 50 centers...with deflection and distraction