Bangladesh-China ties : strategic realities

[BanglaBhoot]

Bangladesh-China ties : strategic realities

Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal, Bangladesh

NFB - July 27 2007

A large Chinese economic and trade delegation led by Chinese Assistant Minister of Commerce Wang Chao arrived in Dhaka on 21 July for a three-day visit after visiting Pakistan and left for Nepal on July 24.

Wang Chao said that China pays a lot of attention to economic relations and trade cooperation with Bangladesh. The Chinese minister also noted the imbalance and promised to narrow the gap. Wang said the 39-member delegation he led would purchase Bangladesh goods worth over $50 million. It is the biggest purchase delegation ever to Bangladesh with over 10 companies listed in China's top 500 and some of them in world's top 500 companies, he added. . The total trade volume between China and Bangladesh almost doubled, up to $3 billion, making it Bangladesh's second biggest trade partner after India. The Chinese suggest that Bangladesh has to improve infrastructure to foster the investment climate.

Visiting representatives of the Chinese companies signed contracts worth about $53 million with Bangladeshi firms later Sunday, mainly to purchase leather, jute products and seafood.

China and Bangladesh also signed an agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, which provides 100 million RMB (about $13.2 million) to Bangladesh with 80 million RMB (about $10.5 million) as non-reimbursable assistance and the left as an interest-free loan. According to the agreement, the two sides decided to build a Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre in Dhaka.

China and Bangladesh have committed to promote bilateral economic relations, narrow the trade imbalance and to encourage investment between the two countries. The trade between the two Asian countries reached a record level of about $3.19 billion in 2006, 28.5 percent higher than the previous year. However, both sides feel that Bangladesh's export to China amounted to only about $98.8 million - indicating a huge negative balance of trade between the two countries. Wang Chao and Bangladeshi Finance and Commerce Advisor Aziz-ul-Islam expressed their desire to encourage bilateral relations during a meeting here on 22 July. Islam said the two countries had achieved a breakthrough in trade relations with a rapid growth of mutual trade.

China had granted tariff-free access to 84 Bangladeshi items within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (AFTA) and hoped more items like jute products, leather and textile will enjoy duty free access in the future. Dhaka has invited more Chinese investment in Bangladesh in sectors like power, infrastructure, construction and electrical products, promising that the Bangladesh government would provide a fair and equal environment. Bangladesh enterprises were welcome to invest in China and to attend the Guangzhou Chinese Import and Export Commodities Fair to show Bangladesh's various products to Chinese people, Wang said. China would provide free stalls in the annual fair to developing countries including Bangladesh, he said.

Friendly relations between the two countries have been developing soundly and smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bangladesh in 1975. On the basis of the five principles of peaceful co-existence and in accordance with mutual benefits, China and Bangladesh have forged all-round and multi-faceted exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture, science and technology, with outstanding achievements.

The Defence Co-operation Agreement was signed between Bangladesh and China during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia‘s visit to China from December 23 to 27, 2002.Bangladesh’s Armed Forces today are predominantly equipped with Chinese military hardware. The Bangladesh Army’s tanks and light tanks are of Chinese origin. The Bangladesh Navy’s frigates and patrol crafts are mostly Chinese. The Bangladesh Air Force's combat aircraft are all Chinese. Bangladesh has plans to expand, upgrade and modernize her armed forces. The emphasis on “to enhance cooperation in training, maintenance and some areas in defence production, but India said that China gets a strategic toe-hold on India’s Eastern flank in Bangladesh. China’s naval intrusions are facilitated by Bangladesh into the Bay of Bengal area

China as the most intrusive external power in South Asia would be well served by its Defence Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh. India cautioned Bangladesh on Pakistani terrorist network in that country, as it has done to Russia and other friendly states to isolate Pakistan in the region. But Bangladesh seems to have taken out an insurance policy from China to cater for increased threat perceptions in the India-specific context. General Musharraf’s visit to Bangladesh in October 2002, his tentative apology for the 1971 Pakistani genocide of the Bengalis and the mutual discussions centering around Pakistan’s perceptions of India’s military escalation would have helped in Musharraf’s exaggerating Bangladesh’s strategic concerns.

Both Bangladesh and China have dense populations and, therefore, share a number of similar challenges. Bangladesh could learn from China's innovations and speed of economic development to push up living standards. Wu said China and Bangladesh enjoy traditional friendship and the cooperation between the two sides has been progressing smoothly during the past years. Chinese and Bangladeshi top lawmakers agreed in Beijing Tuesday to further parliamentary exchanges to deepen the friendly cooperation between the two countries. In April 2005 during an hour-long meeting with Speaker of the Bangladeshi National Assembly Jamiruddin Sircar met Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. He also expressed China's appreciation to Bangladesh for its support on the issues of Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

India’s hegemonistic designs on Bangladesh have been felt by Dhaka. India keeps blaming as a routine matter that Bangladesh offers Pakistan a fertile ground for basing its proxy war apparatus to strategically discomfit India ion its East and North East peripheries. This arises from common religious links and shared heritage of its intelligence and military establishments with those of Pakistan and that that China did not accord diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh till 1975 i.e. nearly four years after the emergence of Bangladesh as a sovereign state. It can be said that China’s relations with Bangladesh were being determined by Pakistan’s considerations.

Political and strategic realities soon took over and China made serious attempts to wean over Bangladesh from India’s influence. India is equally "worried" that China had earlier outflanked United States strategic interests in the Gulf region by its strategic nexus with Pakistan. China, accordingly, can now outflank United States strategic interests in South East Asia by reinforcing the defense cooperation with Bangladesh into a strategic nexus. But the strategists in Washington only could have hearty laugh at New Delhi’s “concerns” for USA in the region.

Along side the Chinese ties, Dhaka is also ensuring the US support to offset any move from Indian side. Bangladesh Armed Forces personnel were participating in US Pacific Command’s training events and the US Marines had carried out familiarization exercises in Bangladesh. On the economic front, the United States had been more than generous towards Bangladesh.

Some critics warn the policy and decision-makers in Bangladesh to make sure the guarantee of Beijing assistance and to ponder long and hard whether China can provide the strategic insurance it seeks against India. They even cite that China’s record of support to Pakistan in the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971 are an ample pointer to the efficacy of its military insurance with China. But, for Dhaka the new scenario emerging in South Asia following the end of the so-called “Cold-war” needs to be treated quite differently and China’s bond with Bangladesh is un-doubtable and positively secured. The results of the recent visit to Dhaka by the Chinese delegation endorse that view with clarity.

---------------------------------------------
Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal is a Research Scholar,

School of International Studies

Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view....&hidType=EDT&hidRecord=0000000000000000166904

 

[Awesome]

Bangladesh needs to be flooded with a lot of weaponry and a commitment needs to be taken from Bangladesh in exchange for a mutual attack onto India in the eventuality of war. The weaponization has to be sufficient so that Bangladesh can withstand a heavy Indian attack.

Unlike in 1971, India would no longer focus its attack on Bangladesh to offset a Pakistani attack on the western front. The best thing would be if Bangladesh can provide Air Force bases and let the Pakistanis do some of the fighting that way not putting Bangladeshis in harms way either.

We can perhaps even work out an American style air bases deal. Air Force bases would be key since Bangladesh lacks the Air power but has proven its worth in many skirmishes with India when its man vs man.

The idea is to make India split its forces significantly. While we do our attacking. One key piece of India worth taking for Bangladesh would be a link to China. Once Bangladesh removes itself from this encircled state it can be significantly hooked up and would ensure their defence at a time of need.

 

[Bull]

Bangladesh needs to be flooded with a lot of weaponry and a commitment needs to be taken from Bangladesh in exchange for a mutual attack onto India in the eventuality of war. The weaponization has to be sufficient so that Bangladesh can withstand a heavy Indian attack..

Mutual attack. Why shud B'desh attack India when Pakistan does? You consider Pakistan as the master of east bengal, dont you?

Unlike in 1971, India would no longer focus its attack on Bangladesh to offset a Pakistani attack on the western front..

Why wud India attack B'desh to offset a Pakistani attack? Both are two independant countries.

The best thing would be if Bangladesh can provide Air Force bases and let the Pakistanis do some of the fighting that way not putting Bangladeshis in harms way either..

Oh yeah, PAF uses B'deshi airbases and India lets off the B'deshi govt for allowing PAF to use their bases. Wow that was **** assumption.

And one more thing, PAF doesnt have enough planes to man its own country.

We can perhaps even work out an American style air bases deal. Air Force bases would be key since Bangladesh lacks the Air power but has proven its worth in many skirmishes with India when its man vs man...

Please Asim.

The idea is to make India split its forces significantly. While we do our attacking. One key piece of India worth taking for Bangladesh would be a link to China. Once Bangladesh removes itself from this encircled state it can be significantly hooked up and would ensure their defence at a time of need.

Yes PAF dedicates a squadron of JF-17 to B'deshi bases and that splits the IAF into two. wow!!!

 

[BanglaBhoot]

The best thing would be if Bangladesh can provide Air Force bases and let the Pakistanis do some of the fighting that way not putting Bangladeshis in harms way either.

An interesting idea. If it really came to a tussle with India than Bangladesh should not be a bit player. I think leaders of Bangladesh should seriously consider this proposition only if China was to guarantee the deal and have some military input in BD similar to your Jinnah and Gwadar ports otherwise it would be a waste of time. No country has successfully won a war where it has split its forces in two theaters of battle with enemies of sufficient strength. Hitler made that mistake when he went after the USSR. The same outcome would happen today if the US went to war against Iran and North Korea simultaneously. Similarly if India had to divide its forces between the East and the West and also the North than it would be impossible for its forces to secure a victory. This proposition might be even more attractive if Sri Lanka was part of the deal. At least this would prevent any future expansionist tendencies on the part of India in the South Asian region.

 

[Contrarian]

You forget Munshi, lacking in knowledge as you already are. That India has for decades prepared directly for a 2 front war. India has always prepared for the worst that one day India might have to fight both China and Pakistan.

And to be honest, Pakistan is no longer the big threat it used to be, sure India has a mentality issue that war obsession is with Pakistan, but the main threat is China and assume clearly that India arms itself to fight China, not Pakistan.

 

[IceCold]

Pakistan was never a threat to india it was all the usual propaganda for india to build up its arms. But india does and always poses a threat to pakistan for which we have been preparing ourselves. If Pakistan China and Bd could get in an agrement of some sort it will be a great achievement.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

India is a threat to all its neighbours not just Pakistan.

 

[HK-47]

so when are we getting invaded?this is quite ridiculous.
an invasion by India will serve the hardliners here in Bangladesh a lot of purpose.Heck,Jamaat/other 'conservatives' will gain popularity just like they did after the Padua incident.
Obviously Bangladesh might have no support from the west when with war against India.so yes we need to keep good ties with China in case something happens.But it's highly unlikely.it's more likely to have naval conflicts over the undemarcated waters of Bay of Bengal than conflicts on land.

 

[gpit]

...

And to be honest, Pakistan is no longer the big threat it used to be, sure India has a mentality issue that war obsession is with Pakistan, but the main threat is China and assume clearly that India arms itself to fight China, not Pakistan.

It is amazing to hear from you that Kashmer is all of sudden no longer important to India.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

so when are we getting invaded?this is quite ridiculous.
an invasion by India will serve the hardliners here in Bangladesh a lot of purpose.Heck,Jamaat/other 'conservatives' will gain popularity just like they did after the Padua incident.
Obviously Bangladesh might have no support from the west when with war against India.so yes we need to keep good ties with China in case something happens.But it's highly unlikely.it's more likely to have naval conflicts over the undemarcated waters of Bay of Bengal than conflicts on land.

India is unlikely to attack by land but they do need to. They can do that from the air and the sea. India is already attacking its neighbours through propaganda so we cannot be complacent about Indian intentions.

 

[enzo]

India is unlikely to attack by land but they do need to. They can do that from the air and the sea. India is already attacking its neighbours through propaganda so we cannot be complacent about Indian intentions.

.
china is bangladesh's great hope .

but i would argue that Saudi-arabia would be a more trustworthy ally of bangladesh.

afterall the Saudis have a great lobby in both the U.S.A & china .

.

 

[Neo]

Welcome aboard Enzo, kindly request you to introduce yourself in the members intro section.
Thanks!

Neo

 

[blitz]

Bangladesh needs to be flooded with a lot of weaponry and a commitment needs to be taken from Bangladesh in exchange for a mutual attack onto India in the eventuality of war. The weaponization has to be sufficient so that Bangladesh can withstand a heavy Indian attack.

Unlike in 1971, India would no longer focus its attack on Bangladesh to offset a Pakistani attack on the western front. The best thing would be if Bangladesh can provide Air Force bases and let the Pakistanis do some of the fighting that way not putting Bangladeshis in harms way either.

We can perhaps even work out an American style air bases deal. Air Force bases would be key since Bangladesh lacks the Air power but has proven its worth in many skirmishes with India when its man vs man.

The idea is to make India split its forces significantly. While we do our attacking. One key piece of India worth taking for Bangladesh would be a link to China. Once Bangladesh removes itself from this encircled state it can be significantly hooked up and would ensure their defence at a time of need.

meh, where do you come up with these theories Asim ? First of all, Pakistan in not in a position to even defend its own airspace properly, and you want to stretch PAF even thinner by basing its assets in Bangladesh to be isolated and cut to pieces ?

Secondly, why should Bangladesh bear the burden of Pakistan ? Would Pakistan attack India if India attacked Bangladesh ?

 

[enzo]

meh, where do you come up with these theories Asim ? First of all, Pakistan in not in a position to even defend its own airspace properly, and you want to stretch PAF even thinner by basing its assets in Bangladesh to be isolated and cut to pieces ?

Secondly, why should Bangladesh bear the burden of Pakistan ? Would Pakistan attack India if India attacked Bangladesh ?

.
with the deliveries of the JF-17s pakistan soon will be in a position to relocate & diversify it's assets.

building or using airbases in bangladesh is a great way to check india.

now is the time !! there is a pakistan friendly military government in bangladesh, who in my mind will be more than happy to oblige.

.

 

[BanglaBhoot]

I think the present situation in both Pakistan and Bangladesh presents many possibilities and opportunities for both countries but we have to wait and see if the political will exists to see the challenges through. I am not entirely convinced that the government or military in Bangladesh is quite sure in which direction they intend to go on strategic issues and we will need to wait and see how things work themselves out in Dhaka.