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

[wiseone2]

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.

How is this different from putting it on a container in Chittagong and shipping it to a port in China ?

 

[TopCat]

How is this different from putting it on a container in Chittagong and shipping it to a port in China ?

It has to go to Singapore with a feeder vessel. Then reloaded to another mother vessel then go to China. Besides coastal shipping is quite different where we dont need big shipping companies get involoved and its only few km from our own port.

 

[idune]

This so called "research" paper has utterly poor understanding about Bangladesh and its relation with China and Japan.
Neither Chinese or Japanese financial help is predicating that help from other is not acceptable. Instead of competing, help from both China and Japan are actually complementing Bangladesh infrastructure and capacity building. Bangladesh needs to connect to China through Myanmar is a priority for Bangladesh, China and Myammar will see through its interest someday. Japan had not and will not put road block to such endeavor and blocking Bangladesh trade and strategic interest does not support Japanese interest. Only, indian type of mentality promotes such zero sum agenda. On the other hand, Bangladesh need to connect to South East Asian (ASEAN) region, that is something Japan can promote and facilitate.

Both connectivity drives complements Bangladesh infrastructure, trade and other interests and no way conflicting. india arm twisted Bangladeshi officials and politicians to make NE as go between to reach China but that route will never be viable for commercial use. Business when considering time and cost will always prefer 'Chittagong-Myanmar-China' route as optimal. Not to mention proximity to Chittagong port makes 'Chittagong-Myanmar-China' route more appealing. Indians tried and somewhat successful in poisoning Bangladesh-Myanmar relation but this type of low indian mentality has limited shelf life in the long run.

Lets not allow indians hijack the thread with indian agenda. Its about Bangladesh - how Bangladesh can benefit from help of both China and Japan; both of which are friendly countries to Bangladesh.