Bangladesh’s potential in the Indo-Chinese hegemony -Akij Mahmud

The first border war between India and China took place in 1962 over a border dispute. Ever since India lost the war to China, China has been aggressive against India on the border issue. The latest proof of this is the escalation of Sino-Indian border tensions in 2020 over the disputed land in Ladakh. Although the two countries blame each other, China’s two policies are manifested through these skirmishes – one. China has always denied India’s allegations and agreed to hold a flag meeting or a settlement on border security issues. Through this the situation started to be propagated in the world as normal. Two. Taking advantage of India’s silence, China repeatedly incited India to war. Evidence of this is China’s claim to sovereignty over the Galwan Valley after an attack within at least 10 kilometers of India.

By adopting these tactics, the international community is of the opinion that China is trying to get involved in a short-term border dispute with India in order to divert the world’s attention from the allegation that the US was trying to corner China by claiming that the coronavirus was a virus created in a Chinese lab. Because, according to experts, there is no need for China to go to war with India at this moment for its own interests. For now, China wants to further expand the market for Chinese products by increasing Chinese investment in South Asia. At the same time to bring the countries under the Chinese belt through attractive investments in the developing countries of South Asia.

The competition in regional politics that has begun between China and India is not just centered on the border. Both developing countries are currently giving more priority to trade. China and India are home to about half the world’s population. Therefore, considering the commercial market, no country is reluctant to leave each other. That is why we notice that India also wants to dominate the model of Chinese commercial politics rather than a bloody war. And that is why we have seen the Sino-Indian war, even at the crossroads, only alleviate the grievances by blaming each other.

In 2016, the trade volume between India and China was 9.6 billion. But the balance was against the exclusive India. The trade deficit that year was 5.6 billion. However, the Indian government has limited itself to shutting down Chinese software in the face of public demands over border tensions, which has not changed major trade between the two countries. On the contrary, the trade partnership between the two countries has further increased during the Corona period in 2020.

But the two countries are in a confrontational position in the defense of regional interests; India is gaining American proximity in this regard mainly because of the American strategy of keeping China away from the masnad of world leadership. Experts believe that the Biden administration will not change the foreign policy of former US President Trump in India. According to experts, India is going to be America’s closest ally in South Asia to defeat China, which dreams of world leadership from the position that Trump has thrown America into.
India is Bangladesh’s closest friend for regional political reasons. And it is true that this regional politics of India has a great impact on Bangladesh. Bangladesh repeatedly remembers India’s cooperation in the war of independence. As India’s position revolves around three aspects of Bangladesh, Bangladesh needs to be as friendly as India, just as India needs to respect Bangladesh’s position. But over the past few decades, border killings have increased at such an alarming rate that an anti-India group has become active in Bangladesh, and their numbers are not small. India was the largest partner of Bangladesh in terms of post-independence trade. But China is now at the top of the list of investments in Bangladesh beyond India’s investment. In 2019, Chinese investment in Bangladesh is 1.4 billion dollars. However, there are also allegations against China that China is creating debt traps in various countries by increasing investment.

Now the question is, will Dhaka take any part in this animosity between Beijing and Delhi? In this case, experts think it is reasonable to present the position of Bangladesh in a neutral manner. According to experts, if maritime navigation between Pakistan and Bangladesh is easier, China’s maritime communication will become more efficient. And that is why in geopolitics, Dhaka is valued by both New Delhi and Beijing.

Despite the conflict between India and China, the two countries have taken a stand against Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. Although China has spoken of mediation in resolving the Rohingya crisis, India has sided with Myanmar on the UN Rohingya issue in 2019, with India playing a neutral role. Though India’s role was neutral, to the people of Bangladesh it was like taking a stand for Myanmar. China is cleverly exploiting the Rohingya issue; China has mediated to resolve this regional issue. Talking about a proper solution to Bangladesh, but in reality, the Myanmar-friendly attitude calls into question China’s mediation! News of China’s persecution of the Uyghur Muslim community has spread around the world, but China has tried to cover it up in various ways. However, Muslim countries, like the Palestinians and the Rohingya, are quite concerned about the Uyghur Muslim community. Yet it is true that China’s single role is enough to solve the Rohingya problem.

The hateful remarks of the ruling BJP leaders on the Indian government’s controversial amendment to the Civil Registration Act in late 2019 made Dhaka very uncomfortable. Apart from this, Bangladesh’s smooth relations with India have become somewhat distrustful due to sudden stoppage of onion exports, slight opposition of India to the launch of Bangabandhu satellite in 2019, distribution of water from various inland rivers including Teesta. On the other hand, China’s influence in other South Asian countries is gradually becoming clear. By doing so, Beijing is slowly putting Delhi in a friend crisis. China wants Bangladesh to maintain its neutral position on the Indo-China issue. But India, a selfless friend like Bangladesh, will never want to lose. That is why Indian diplomats have repeatedly visited Bangladesh and said that Bangladesh will be able to bring its citizens under vaccination with India. China is not far behind,

There is a lot of potential for Bangladesh in the violence of this Sino-Indian regional politics. Experts believe that the policy that China is going to implement against India in the waters of the Brahmaputra river could have an impact on the downstream country Bangladesh as well. In this case, Bangladesh will be looking at India’s strategy, at the same time what Bangladesh can do is to put pressure on India to get a fair share of water in the rivers flowing between India and Bangladesh.

From regional to global politics, trade wars are taking place between influential countries in the name of power struggles; Where influential countries are engaged in a strategy of pulling different countries through investment. In South Asia which started with the intervention of China. Let’s see how India’s regional interests can affect China’s dream of world conquest. At the same time, it remains to be seen how much Bangladesh can benefit from this Indo-Chinese war.

The writer is studying at the University of Chittagong