Japanese Infrastructure Deal with Bangladesh May Disrupt “Belt and Road” Initiative

[Genesis]

honestly, i dont like this Indian attitude of everything is bad and useless. A strong Bangledesh, Pakistan, South Asia in general is good for everyone. China is confident of its ability to compete regardless. We dont need weak opponents and friends. As a famous saying, only through competition with those that are good could one improve.

Japanese investment is very much welcomed. Bangledesh still needs many more billions. Indians also welcome.

I do not want to be rude to Bangladeshi posters. Other than access to a potential lucrative market of 200 million people in Bangladesh there is nothing strategic about Bangladesh. Myanmar has no interest in connectivity with Bangladesh. India-Bangladesh connectivity is something India and Bangladesh do bilaterally. You can rest assured India will not involve China in bilateral India-Bangladesh issues.

All the hoopla about OBOR is about China's desire to own vital infrastructure in other countries.
If China wants to ship goods to Europe Russia has the railway lines to ship things to Europe. It already exists.

yea 200 million men market, sounds useless to me.

If you can't appreciate the power of 200 million, i m not entirely sure what i could say. The fact you want China out of the picture really says it all. America was the most involved power in China for decades, even now. I guess just this one attitude explains the 11 to 2 difference.

 

[wiseone2]

So, it is a bad project? May I know why?

People traded from Asia to Europe in ancient times through land route (call it Silk Route)
Global trade increased when Europeans discovered a sea route to Asia bypassing the Middle East.
USA have provided freedom of navigation on the oceans. Global trade has skyrocketed.

Explain to me why you want to build a highway and railway line from SE Asia to Middle East passing through Central Asia paying tolls to every corrupt leader on the way.

A person espouses such an idea is called a cup cake. Have a nice day.

 

[Zer0reZ]

But the document doesn't say 1 trillion yen for Act East policy. There is only Nagaland Forest Management Program. Am I missing anything?

Total investment will be around 3.5 trillion yen some will be done by Japan backed ADB like
ADB signals funding approach shift to Indian states bordering China

The report itself is of the project sanctioned in 2016-17 fiscal, in total it include projects like $100 bn high speed rail network, $91 bn DCIM, DFC etc, I didn't said trillion of investment is only for act east policy.

 

[wiseone2]

honestly, i dont like this Indian attitude of everything is bad and useless. A strong Bangledesh, Pakistan, South Asia in general is good for everyone. China is confident of its ability to compete regardless. We dont need weak opponents and friends. As a famous saying, only through competition with those that are good could one improve.

Japanese investment is very much welcomed. Bangledesh still needs many more billions. Indians also welcome.


yea 200 million men market, sounds useless to me.

If you can't appreciate the power of 200 million, i m not entirely sure what i could say. The fact you want China out of the picture really says it all. America was the most involved power in China for decades, even now. I guess just this one attitude explains the 11 to 2 difference.

China is free to invest in Bangladesh. For all I care it is between China and Bangladesh.

I called OBOR for what it is - Chinese attempt to own infrastructure in 3rd countries.

With India and Myanmar there is no land based connectivity to Bangladesh.

China is good at selling stuff to Bangladesh and for that matter the whole world. Until you change your mercantilist attitude Bangladesh will not benefit.

 

[Homo Sapiens]

People traded from Asia to Europe in ancient times through land route (call it Silk Route)
Global trade increased when Europeans discovered a sea route to Asia bypassing the Middle East.
USA have provided freedom of navigation on the oceans. Global trade has skyrocketed.

Explain to me why you want to build a highway and railway line from SE Asia to Middle East passing through Central Asia paying tolls to every corrupt leader on the way.

A person espouses such an idea is called a cup cake. Have a nice day.

Why are you only thinking about freight transport? What about people going from one country to another by road or rail? Even sea trade is not everything.You need railway to transport goods inland from the sea port.OBOR will allow China to unload goods in Gwadar port and transport them in western China, similarly BCM corridor will allow China to trade with Bangladesh and Myanmar bypassing lengthy sea route.It will also allow China to unload goods in deep sea port of Bangladesh and Myanmar and transport them to Chinese heartland bypassing Malacca strait and long sea voyage.

Explain to me why you want to build a highway and railway line from SE Asia to Middle East passing through Central Asia paying tolls to every corrupt leader on the way.

So, you think, corrupt leader are perpetual/infinity? With grater integration and economic prosperity, toll barrier will come down.It will not at least do problem among China, Pakistan or China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.You can be assured.

 

[wiseone2]

honestly, i dont like this Indian attitude of everything is bad and useless. A strong Bangledesh, Pakistan, South Asia in general is good for everyone. China is confident of its ability to compete regardless. We dont need weak opponents and friends. As a famous saying, only through competition with those that are good could one improve.

I like your attitude and that of your countrymen
But desis (Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis) are yet to shed Hindu Raja, British Raj and Mughal attitudes
It will take some time and rude external shocks to drill us out of complacency. For example Pakistanis like CPEC because they want to be a toll collector

 

[Genesis]

China is free to invest in Bangladesh. For all I care it is between China and Bangladesh.

I called OBOR for what it is - Chinese attempt to own infrastructure in 3rd countries.

With India and Myanmar there is no land based connectivity to Bangladesh.

China is good at selling stuff to Bangladesh and for that matter the whole world. Until you change your mercantilist attitude Bangladesh will not benefit.

There it is again, China change. What does it matter what China wants, or what China does. Bangledesh must use China for its own benefit, regardless of Chinese designs.

China did this to the US and it worked to China's benefit, if Bangledesh cannot do the same, then it really doesnt matter if China is Gandhi or Hitler.

 

[wiseone2]

Why are you only thinking about freight transport? What about people going from one country to another by road or rail? Even sea trade is not everything.You need railway to transport goods inland from the sea port.OBOR will allow China to unload goods in Gwadar port and transport them in western China, similarly BCM corridor will allow China to trade with Bangladesh and Myanmar bypassing lengthy sea route.It will also allow China to unload goods in deep sea port of Bangladesh and Myanmar and transport them to Chinese heartland bypassing Malacca strait and long sea voyage.

Without stability in Myanmar this is a pipe dream. Myanmar has internal political issues that won't be resolved for the next 20 years. 40% of non-Burmese population is in a state of war. China can trade with Myanmar. They are already connected by land. China trade with Bangladesh has to go through Myanmar and India.

You want people to go by road and rail to neighboring countries. It is a laudable idea. Road transport is impractical beyond 300 miles. Where do you want to go by rail ?

 

[Genesis]

I like your attitude and that of your countrymen
But desis (Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis) are yet to shed Hindu Raja, British Raj and Mughal attitudes
It will take some time and rude external shocks to drill us out of complacency. For example Pakistanis like CPEC because they want to be a toll collector

i say your businessmen are doing quite well, your common citizens not so much, but its more or less the same in China. Whats curious is your politicians are also like this, they are suppose to be the elites, and only whats best for the country, now that doesnt mean they are saints, but a good direction for the country also bemefits them especially considering they have elections to win. in another month no indian will even remeber China, but they will remember whether their kids got that new pair of shoes, or that they got that new rail built to visit their parents.

very curious.

 

[wiseone2]

So, you think, corrupt leader are perpetual/infinity? With grater integration and economic prosperity, toll barrier will come down.It will not at least do problem among China, Pakistan or China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.You can be assured.

The last time I checked Khaleda Zia and Hasina have been ruling for the past 30 years.
When you get rid of corrupt leaders let us talk

 

[Homo Sapiens]

You want people to go by road and rail to neighboring countries. It is a laudable idea. Road transport is impractical beyond 300 miles. Where do you want to go by rail ?

India,Myanmar,China,Thailand, Malaysia,Singapore,Vietnam,Nepal.

 

[wiseone2]

i say your businessmen are doing quite well, your common citizens not so much, but its more or less the same in China. Whats curious is your politicians are also like this, they are suppose to be the elites, and only whats best for the country, now that doesnt mean they are saints, but a good direction for the country also bemefits them especially considering they have elections to win. in another month no indian will even remeber China, but they will remember whether their kids got that new pair of shoes, or that they got that new rail built to visit their parents.

very curious.

Nope most Indians would not know if Chinese equipment was behind their infrastructure
I am an engineer by profession. I have some innate curiosity.

Your Chinese model of government does not work elsewhere. Look no further from North Korea, Mongolia or Vietnam. Everyone has to innovate their own political system.

 

[KRAIT]

Good for BD.

 

[wiseone2]

India,Myanmar,China,Thailand, Malaysia,Singapore,Vietnam,Nepal.

Connectivity to India exists. Once you are in India the Indian Railways is decent for passenger transport.

Myanmar is hard given the terrain and political situation. Without Myanmar the rest is not going to work.
I do not see it happening for the next 20 years.

 

[TopCat]

Without stability in Myanmar this is a pipe dream. Myanmar has internal political issues that won't be resolved for the next 20 years. 40% of non-Burmese population is in a state of war. China can trade with Myanmar. They are already connected by land. China trade with Bangladesh has to go through Myanmar and India.

You want people to go by road and rail to neighboring countries. It is a laudable idea. Road transport is impractical beyond 300 miles. Where do you want to go by rail ?

China already have a port in MM and started operating. We also started operating coastal shipping with MM. So there is no issue of connectivity. We can get our goods from Chinese port in MM and vice versa. There is no need for our truck to enter MM whatsoever. We are covered.