An article in the state-owned Global Times on December 12, 2017, confirmed that the Sri Lanka government had last week handed over the Hambantota Port to China on a 99-year lease, which had "stirred alarm in New Delhi". It said though Colombo has repeatedly assured India that the port is intended purely for civilian purposes and won't be used as a military base by any foreign country, Indian media outlets still regard China's acquisition of the port as a ploy to create more Chinese strategic and economic footholds in the region. It asserted that "New Delhi's outdated strategic mentality cannot dampen the strong enthusiasm in the region for deepening cooperation with Beijing. Maldives has just inked a free trade agreement with China. The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is being earnestly pushed forward despite terrorism and political instability". Describing "Beijing's investments in Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other peripheral nations" as answering "their call for an enhancement of their economy and people's livelihoods", it said "Establishing a community of common destiny featuring common ideals, common prosperity and common responsibility is what China strives for in the region". The Global Times article also regretted that "Beijing's efforts to dispel New Delhi's strategic suspicions have been in vain. The development of peripheral countries will sooner or later make India realize that it's wrong to hype the China threat. Beijing will patiently wait for New Delhi to understand the essence of the Belt and Road initiative".
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