Bangladesh, China agree to increase military cooperation

[Varunastra]

If the worse comes to pass and Bangladesh provides a military base/port to China then we'll have something serious to think about. Till then for India it's not much to worry about.

 

[Black_cats]

China, Bangladesh should oppose powers from outside the region forming 'military alliance' in South Asia: Chinese Defence Minister

BCCL - Non Copyright
China has vehemently opposed the formation of the Quad

Synopsis
His comments came in the backdrop of the United States, India, Australia and Japan under the Quad grouping agreed to enhance their cooperation in the strategic Indo-Pacific amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

By PTI
Apr 28, 2021, 02:03 PM IST
China and Bangladesh should make joint efforts against powers from outside the region establishing a "military alliance" in South Asia and practising "hegemonism", Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Wei Fenghesaid on Tuesday.

Wei made the remarks when he called on Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid here and the two sides agreed to advance the bilateral military cooperation, China's official Xinhua news agency reported from Dhaka.


His comments came in the backdrop of the United States, India, Australia and Japan under the Quad grouping agreed to enhance their cooperation in the strategic Indo-Pacific amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

China has vehemently opposed the formation of the Quad with a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman emphasising that exchanges and cooperation between countries should help expand mutual understanding and trust, instead of targeting or harming the interests of third parties.


His comments after the first virtual Quad summit attended by US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on March 12.

Wei said during his meeting with President Hamid that China and Bangladesh have been friendly neighbours since ancient time and have a long history of bilateral ties, adding that presently, both countries are at a crucial time in national rejuvenation and development, enjoying a synergy between their development strategies and a broad prospect for cooperation.

"To jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the two sides should make joint efforts against powers outside the region setting up military alliance in South Asia and practicing hegemonism," Wei, also a State Councilor, emphasised.

He said China is willing to work with Bangladesh to well implement the important consensus reached between their leaders to further develop the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.


With their cooperation being extensive, the two militaries should further increase the high-level visits, deepen cooperation in equipment technology, broaden exchanges in specialised fields, and forge closer military relations, he said.

During the meeting, Hamid said Bangladesh and China are time-tested friends and reliable strategic cooperation partners, adding that Dhaka attaches great importance to its relations with China and firmly supports the core interests of China.

The Bangladesh president called on both countries to strengthen coordination in international affairs and be committed to safeguarding regional peace, stability, prosperity and development, the Xinhua report said.

Hamid said he hopes the two militaries will continue to strengthen their practical cooperation in various fields, pushing for greater progress in their relations.

He also expressed gratitude for China's strong support for his country in its development of economy and national defence.

"The Chinese defence minister said Beijing will continue its strategic cooperation in the development of Bangladesh's armed forces as the military cooperation between two countries are gradually increasing," a Bangabhaban – the presidential palace - spokesman told PTI.

President Hamid welcomed Beijing's desire to strengthen the bilateral defence ties in the days to come, his press secretary Joynal Abedin said.

According to Abedin, Wei said that Beijing was also keen to enhance cooperation with Dhaka in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic while it was working to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

“China is also working to resolve the Rohingya problem,” the Chinese defence minister said.

According to the presidential palace spokesman, President Hamid reminded the Chinese minister that Bangladesh wanted Beijing to use its good office in persuading Myanmar to take back the forcibly displaced Rohingyas as it maintained a very good relation with Myanmar.

President Hamid described China as one of Bangladesh's most important development partners.

“Bangladesh-China relations are gradually expanding in various fields including trade and investment,” the president said.

The Chinese investments particularly in infrastructure and communication sectors were playing a very significant role in Bangladesh's socio-economic development, he said.

Hamid appreciated Beijing's willingness in strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations in tackling the coronavirus pandemic, saying Bangladesh as well was keen to work together with China on it.

Bangladesh is also eager to take joint initiative in research and production of corona vaccine, he added.

Also on Tuesday, Wei held in-depth talks with Bangladesh Army chief Gen Aziz Ahmed, discussing international and regional situation as well as relations between the two countries and two militaries.

China, Bangladesh should oppose powers from outside the region forming 'military alliance' in South Asia: Chinese Defence Minister

His comments came in the backdrop of the United States, India, Australia and Japan under the Quad grouping agreed to enhance their cooperation in the strategic Indo-Pacific amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

www.google.com

 

[Bilal9]

Well guess what guys - China is making its position about countering the quad in Bangladesh more and more obvious and overt these days. Visit of Defence Minister Wei-Fenghe in the middle of a pandemic is an indicator in that regard to gauge Bangladesh position in terms of strategic defence moves.

Not to say I told you so - but this will only get more apparent as time goes on.

This may also be an indicator of something important coming down the line as China maybe planning something "major" in the neighborhood.

Good to see that China's diplomacy in Bangladesh has started in earnest as Bangladesh slides toward China. There is nothing so far that the Quad has offered to Bangladesh to counter Chinese courtship, except maybe a lot of "visits" and hot air.

Also important is the US view that they do not see Bangladesh with an "Indian lens", signifying the seriousness of that relationship and trying to allay Bangladeshi concerns. However these overtures do not contain concrete objectives like investments or more serious diplomatic parlays.

On the part of Hasina and gang, they have to make their position more overt too using public proclamations (more China-centric rather than Quad-centric). This has so far been more diplomatic and covert.

We shall see...

 

[UKBengali]

If the worse comes to pass and Bangladesh provides a military base/port to China then we'll have something serious to think about. Till then for India it's not much to worry about.

Relax buddy.

BD is not hostile to India and wants good economic and people relations. BD people like visiting India and Indians are welcome to visit BD anytime and will be made to feel welcome.

As for Chinese base/port, forget it. BD is an independent country that does not do camps. We want good relations with both the West and China. As for India, as long as India is friendly to BD then BD will be friendly to India.

 

[F-6 enthusiast]

more overt

no need to do a 180 openly , can't afford it (not now) .Most of our exports go to EU and US. .BD needs to keep intentions covert and Extract benefits (investment) from both sides (US, Japan and China).

China and Bangladesh should make joint efforts against powers from outside the region establishing a "military alliance" in South Asia and practising "hegemonism", Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe said

This single line is probably going to send shockwaves in New Delhi . An insurance policy, incase they try to do anything funny. I personally , will be looking forward to some interesting headlines coming from their media
Looks like the Cold war 2.0 has reached our neighbourhood.
We will have to exploit our geographic position for our own benefit, otherwise someone else will.

 

[Bilal9]

This single line is probably going to send shockwaves in New Delhi .

You are correct. Foreign affairs types in India will be commenting quite a bit now, and we should watch those deliberations closely. The neighborhood is being re-shaped, and will be a lot less to India's liking.

No war will result - but balance of strategic influences will change in a big way.

 

[Jobless Jack]

So much for the balance between West and China.

BD is already in China's orbit. The cat is out the bag.

Indians and their sympathizers in BD can cry a river and drown in it.

You are correct. Foreign affairs types in India will be commenting quite a bit now, and we should watch those deliberations closely. The neighborhood is being re-shaped, and will be a lot less to India's liking.

No war will result - but balance of strategic influences will change in a big way.

Expect proxy war and Indo bangla border heating up. India will notbtake this laying down.

Bsf has decades of practice in low- mid intensive border war. Raw has decades of experience sponsoring and guiding terrorist movements in South Asia.

What does BD have? The timing of such statement is terrible.

On the bright side, there goes the Eurofighter typhoon deal. Expect j10's.

 

[mb444]

So much for the balance between West and China.

BD is already in China's orbit. The cat is out the bag.

Indians and their sympathizers in BD can cry a river and drown in it.

Expect proxy war and Indo bangla border heating up. India will notbtake this laying down.

Bsf has decades of practice in low- mid intensive border war. Raw has decades of experience sponsoring and guiding terrorist movements in South Asia.

What does BD have? The timing of such statement is terrible.

On the bright side, there goes the Eurofighter typhoon deal. Expect j10's.

What are you talking about? BD will maintain balance as it has always done.

Economically west centric but defensively china centric, hardly a new thing or a secret.

There will be slight and continuous tweaks to BD position as situation dictates but there wont be any major realignment.

Quad still does not have clear goals, organisation or capacity.... time will tell how that pans out.

BD can for a short while wait and see. If it came down to it we will choose west as our economy is dependent upon it. But if no hard choice is forced upon us expect more of the same.....

 

[mb444]

makes sense China, with Xi as it's leader, is now a black nation.
Bangladeshi worship a black rock and are thus a black nation.
Once Xi came to power relations with the USA soured. USA, with it's white house, is a white nation and thus doesn't get along well with blacks.

African, Brazilian and US Blacks, many of whom believe they are Israelites, will soon figure out that it is China where blacks will find their new land of milk and honey, thus ease, parasitism, drug dealing and jumping, dancing and singing for big money. Huge empty cities ready for occupation.

Perhaps those Israeli black hats who looted Britain and the USA will show up too.

Gammon alert....

I guess this demanding demand related to BD proposal for production line of MANPAD that Dalal posted where BD try to find countries which can supply the necessary TOT for that.

I doubt China demand like this if BD doesnt demand China first.......

Lot to ask in return for a MANPAD TOT!!!! Lol

 

[Jobless Jack]

What are you talking about? BD will maintain balance as it has always done.

Economically west centric but defensively china centric, hardly a new thing or a secret.

There will be slight and continuous tweaks to BD position as situation dictates but there wont be any major realignment.

Quad still does not have clear goals, organisation or capacity.... time will tell how that pans out.

BD can for a short while wait and see. If it came down to it we will choose west as our economy is dependent upon it. But if no hard choice is forced upon us expect more of the same.....

I am all for neutrality. But such statements of alliance will send shockwaves in delhi.

BD choose too early. Such statements are not neutral statements.

And i doubt BD will choose the west. Your military is too china centric.. And with yuan starting to replace the dollar in phases. What you say is least likely to happen.

 

[VikingRaider]

I am all for neutrality. But such statements of alliance will send shockwaves in delhi.

BD choose too early. Such statements are not neutral statements.

And i doubt BD will choose the west. Your military is too china centric.. And with yuan starting to replace the dollar in phases. What you say is least likely to happen.

I don't want neutrality , as in today's world you can't remain neutral in true sense.

Only Allah , Satan , and dead body are neutral.

Allah is Neutral because he shower his mercy ro every one , even who disobey him. At least before final judgement he won't take action.

Satan is neutral because he try to spoil everyone's mind.

Dead body has no side.

So in today's world , trying ri remain neutral is considered as opporrunitic behaviour.

You just can't survive you stand on to boat at the same time.

So you have to choose one side.

And my vote is for Chinese block. Anyone can vote for western block too , but there is no way to remain neutral.

I already discussed with others about it in another thread who want Bangladesh to remain opportunistic cheap country ( so called complete neutrality).

@Jobless Jack

 

[Jobless Jack]

I don't want neutrality , as in today's world you can't remain neutral in true sense.

Only Allah , Satan , and dead body are neutral.

Allah is Neutral because he shower his mercy ro every one , even who disobey him. At least before final judgement he won't take action.

Satan is neutral because he try to spoil everyone's mind.

Dead body has no side.

So in today's world , trying ri remain neutral is considered as opporrunitic behaviour.

You just can't survive you stand on to boat at the same time.

So you have to choose one side.

And my vote is for Chinese block. Anyone can vote for western block too , but there is no way to remain neutral.

I already discussed with others about it in another thread who want Bangladesh to remain opportunistic cheap country ( so called complete neutrality).

@Jobless Jack

Well in an Ideal world maintaining neutrality between the West and China would be in best interest of BD.

But we don't live in an ideal world. Chinese are now the workhorse of BD economy and Military. The west itself is in retreat and is not going to play any role in south Asia in the future where they will come out victorious. So really this concept that BD must not go against the western interest is a lie. The west is in terminal decline, so in the future the are more likely to focus in their immediate neighborhood than ours .i.e. Americans will focus more on North America/ Americas, Europeans more focused on Europe. So how do you go against western interest when their interest is else where ? In the future they west will no longer be in a position to project power outside of their own continent. Some will decline to the point where they wont be able to project power outside of their own borders. So why would they have interests in our region ? Because of this the west will no longer be able to mix politics and business. Western sanction will become a hilarious joke.

So this argument about BD losing business in the west is null and void.

Quad is nothing but a vanity project designed to do an ego boost, deny reality and desperately trying to hold on to a bygone era. This is not the new cold war. China has already checkmate the west. The 300 year old western led world order has fallen. The west is slowly realizing this . The west has only two option. either declare nuclear war on china and Russia, which will be catastrophic event ( west will still lose the nuclear war) or they can sit back and retreat to their own regions and continents knowing this is the end of their global empire and accept the new world order and make the best they can out of it.

Unless the advocates of neutrality can come out with a solution for the above mentioned situation. They are just India sympathizers pretending to be intellectuals or too naïve. BD gains very little by holding on to the cold war mentality. BD must adopt for the new global order. If Bd plays her cards right, instead of begging the west for investment, BD will be able to dictate trade contracts to the west that favours BD. But for that to happen , BD needs to drop the colonial slave mentality.

 

[VikingRaider]

Well in an Ideal world maintaining neutrality between the West and China would be in best interest of BD

Yes and that's why it's called opportunistic ;if we only think about our own best interest. You will get some best benefit for a certain period of time , and then no one will trust you.

So the time is long gone , Bangladesh became an important country and no longer a bottomless basket.

The center of power game us transferring towards the bay of bengal. Here Bangladesh will act as a strong hedge for Chinese block to prevent any aid to North East India from mainland, if even China want to wring the chicken neck.

So you have to choose either China or West. If you choose west, it will backfire. We should learn a lesson from Pakistan who actively choose American side to break soviet union.

Now it's our time, if choose China or choose western side to dismantle China.

Center of power game is no longer Afghanistan but it's now the bay of bengal.

But we can choose Pakistani style, as they are in Chinese block, but maintaining good relationship with west.

But we don't live in an ideal world. Chinese are now the workhorse of BD economy and Military. The west itself is in retreat and is not going to play any role in south Asia in the future where they will come out victorious. So really this concept that BD must not go against the western interest is a lie. The west is in terminal decline, so in the future the are more likely to focus in their immediate neighborhood than ours .i.e. Americans will focus more on North America/ Americas, Europeans more focused on Europe. So how do you go against western interest when their interest is else where ? In the future they west will no longer be in a position to project power outside of their own continent. Some will decline to the point where they wont be able to project power outside of their own borders. So why would they have interests in our region ? Because of this the west will no longer be able to mix politics and business. Western sanction will become a hilarious joke.

The time hasn't come yet . Yes the time will come after the decisive matter.

If China retreat , then wet will remain powerful , if West retreat, China will be the hotspot.

So in the crucial time we have to choose a side. And as usual my vote is for China.

Unless the advocates of neutrality can come out with a solution for the above mentioned situation. They are just India sympathizers pretending to be intellectuals or too naïve. BD gains very little by holding on to the cold war mentality. BD must adopt for the new global order. If Bd plays her cards right, instead of begging the west for investment, BD will be able to dictate trade contracts to the west that favours BD. But for that to happen , BD needs to drop the colonial slave mentality.

Exactly i agree. Now people who are shouting to remain neutral ( not only PDF but everywhere, be it online or offline), they are intellectual minded and serving Indian purpose ,either unconsciously ( who afe just too naive ) ,or concuously ( who are uncle Toms).

@Jobless Jack

 

[bluesky]

Hold on a sec, need to register this sentence . This might be a translation error.

Not a translation error. China criticized America, a power outside of Asia for interfering in Asian power politics.

Bangladesh army is now looking for Turkish weapons. Bangladesh might buy Khan ballistic missile and Bayraktar drones from Turkey.

Within next 10-20 years Bangladesh army will be the next Ottoman army(Soundtrack of Etrugul ghazi in background ROFL) taking into account the massive interest they are showing towards Turkish weapons.

Turkish Lira is continuously falling making Turkish armaments cheaper. Its technology is also high. So, Bd can purchase Turkic products at a bargain price.

 

[Jobless Jack]

Yes and that's why it's called opportunistic ;if we only think about our own best interest. You will get some best benefit for a certain period of time , and then no one will trust you.

So these time has long gone , Bangladesh became an important country and no longer a bottomless basket.

The center of power game us transferring towards the bay of bengal. Here Bangladesh will act as a strong hedge for Chinese block to prevent any aid to North East India from mainland, if even China want to wring the chicken neck.

So you have to choose either China or West. If you choose, West it will backfire you. We should learn a lesson from Pakistan who actively choose American side to break soviet union.

Now it's our time, if choose China or choose western side to dismantle China.

Center of power game is no longer Afghanistan but it's now the bay of bengal.

But we can choose Pakistani style, as they are in Chinese block, but maintaining good relationship with west.

The time hasn't come yet . Yes the time will come after the decisive matter.

If China retreat , then wet will remain powerful , if West retreat, China will be the hotspot.

So in the crucial time we have to choose a side. And as usual my vote is for China.



Exactly i agree. Now people who are shouting to remain neutral ( not only PDF but everywhere, be it online or offline), they are intellectual minded and serving Indian purpose ,either unconsciously ( who afe just too naive ) ,or concuously ( who are uncle Toms).

@Jobless Jack

Yes but even if the Chinese retreat, how far will they retreat ? they are still from the same region as BD and however weak or strong China may become, China will continue to serve as a counterweight to India or any Indian successor state forever. Especially in the NE, which is BD's backyard because the traditional chinese heartland has had always had a border with NE and will continue to do so in the future. It is completely in BD's peril to antagonize the Chinese.

Aligning with China serves more of BD interest. Think about the relationship between russia and the central asian stans. Soviet union gone , but the Stans main close ties with Russia. Far closer to russia than USA, co incidence ? NO. Russia is in their same region and also geographical proximity . Same rules apply for BD China relationship.

So no, BD needs a closer relationship with China. Pakistan paid for their mistake in 1960's - 1990 by ignoring china and favoring the west over China by losing half their country and becoming a wahabi breeding ground. Pakistan has significantly recovered now and has learned its lessons.

Your neighbors will stay with you forever. The guest only comes and stays for a limited time with a expiry date. Lesson is there in this for BD, for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.