China's Soft Power Policy Towards Bangladesh

In the 20th century, war was fought on land, and in the 21st century, war will be fought on water. Hence, the 21st century is termed the “Naval Century.” World Wars I and II in Europe were fought over territory. The war in East Asia this century will center on the possession of the seas. So it is said, “Europe is a landscape; East Asia is a seascape. In terms of power, China is both very big and very small. China is very big and powerful in the sense that China’s external hegemony is from the eastern border of Russia to the Far East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. International politics have focused on the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) use of soft power to engage with other countries, particularly after 2000. In international relations, soft power refers to a non-coercive strategy that involves the capacity to influence others by coercion and co-optation as opposed to force and coercion. Economic instruments, cultural customs, political beliefs, and foreign policy are the sources of soft power.

Recently, the visit of the head of the interim government, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, to China seems to have opened a new dimension and new horizons in the diplomatic relations of both countries. Many analysts have referred to it as a successful visit. Because important factors have been evident in this visit. Among them, the master plan for the distribution of Teesta water, China’s cooperation in the health sector, and the Rohingya issue were discussed. Basically, this visit is significant for increasing the value of economic and diplomatic relations, which is often described as soft power.

Advisor Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus has said that Bangladesh attaches the utmost importance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He said this in an interview with Chinese media CGTN. Analysts say that Professor Yunus’s visit to China comes as Bangladesh and China are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. Analysts believe that the visit of the principal advisor is an indication of how Bangladesh’s mutual relations and understanding with China will be in the coming days.

Chief Advisor Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus is returning from his visit to China with promises of huge investments, loans, and grants. He has also received promises of implementing the Teesta project and quotas and tariff concessions until 2028. Bangladesh has received commitments of $2.1 billion in investment, loans, and grants during the visit of Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus to China. Of this, about 30 Chinese companies have pledged to invest $1 billion in the China Industrial Economic Zone in Bangladesh. There are plans to allocate $400 million in loans for the modernisation of Mongla Port, $350 million for the development of the economic zone, and $150 million for technical assistance. The remaining funds will come in the form of grants and other loan assistance.

Analysts consider this visit a successful one. They say that the two countries have issued joint statements during the bilateral visit; agreements and memorandums of understanding have been signed—this is the expected aspect of the visit. In addition, the language used with the permanent government at other times is also being viewed with importance. During Professor Yunus’ visit, issues such as Chinese investment in Bangladesh, river management, and the Rohingya crisis have come under discussion. However, various analyses are also underway on the issues of seeking China’s advice on water management in Bangladesh or Bangladesh’s support for the one-China policy, as in the past. Regarding Teesta and water resource management, Bangladesh’s state news agency BSS reported that Professor Yunus has sought a 50-year master plan from China for managing hundreds of vast rivers and water resources. The resolution of the Rohingya crisis is sounding like a message of hope. It is worth noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations, or the golden jubilee. Analysts see the event as a milestone in the relations between the two countries.

China and Bangladesh exchanged ancient histories. The Bay of Bengal served as a useful sea transportation route in the past. Historical evidence also demonstrates the cordial relationship between Chinese Emperor Yung Lo and Bengal Sultan Ghiyas Uddin Azam Shah at the time. They also sent gifts to one another. Bangladesh’s political history is distinct. Bangladesh was a component of Pakistan, known as East Pakistan, prior to the independence war in 1971. Bengali politicians in East Pakistan at the time had ties to the Chinese Communist Party. The main leader of the CCP, Mao Zedong, had close ties to Bengali luminaries Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. Zhou Enlai, the Chinese premier at the time, made numerous trips to East Pakistan in the 1950s and 1960s. During the Bangladesh independence struggle, East Pakistan and China’s international relations underwent a transformation.

East Pakistan has always been excluded from advancement and advantages. Every resource in the East was taken by the West. In addition, the West assaulted Eastern languages and cultures. In 1971, the geopolitical competition erupted into war. The desire for independence from West Pakistan was intense in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). According to Joseph, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) opposed the liberation war in Bangladesh, which went against the PRC’s constitutional pledge. The “revolutionary act of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism” is mentioned in the PRC constitution. India provided assistance to Bangladesh throughout the war. China and India had already engaged in combat in 1962. China and Pakistan had an excellent bond of relations at the time. Pakistan had ties to the United States as well. Through Pakistan, U.S. leaders intended to make their first trip to China. The first veto was used to back Pakistan during the 1971 war, and Taiwan was replaced as a permanent member of the UN Security Council by the People’s Republic of China in 1971.

Bangladesh once more selected the Soviet Union for post-war and reconstruction assistance after gaining independence. There were certain ideological conflicts between the Soviet Union and China at the time. Bangladesh requires UN membership to receive further funding for post-conflict rehabilitation. Huang Hua, a Chinese delegate, voted against Bangladesh’s admission to the UN. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman began to consider Chia’s significance in securing Bangladesh’s membership in the UN. Abdus Samad Azad, the foreign minister of Bangladesh at the time, also wrote to Chinese Premier Zou En Lai. Following a devastating flood in 1974, the Chinese government began to exercise soft power over Bangladesh. Bangladesh received the first humanitarian supplies from China. Through the friendship, Bangladesh’s foreign policy embarked on a new trajectory. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman grew closer to China, Russia, and India over time. Zia came to power following the murder of Sheikh Mujib. China began to forge closer diplomatic ties with Bangladesh in 1975. The man who initially brought free markets back to Bangladesh, Ziaur Rahman, also made a concerted effort to improve ties with China. In October 1975, Beijing and Dhaka began establishing cooperative and long-lasting ties.

General Hussain Mohammad Ershad took over without a fight following Ziaur Rahman. There were no new policies under his rule. He also struck a balance in his dealings with China and India. In Bangladesh, he established private corporate ownership and the liberalisation process. He made five trips to China during his nine-year rule. He demonstrated his support for the one-China policy and his refusal to pursue diplomatic ties with Taiwan during his visit.

Additionally, Chinese President Li Ximannian visited Bangladesh in 1982 and 1986, when they discussed trade, future relations, and mutual benefits. Mrs. Khaleda Zia served as the prime minister of Bangladesh in 2002. Additionally, she began adhering to the new “Look East” strategy. That policy’s primary goal was to optimise both nations’ economic gains. Zhu Rongji, the premier of China, visited Dhaka in 2002 to discuss bilateral economic cooperation. In 2009, Sheikh Hasina took over as Bangladesh’s leader. The relationship between China and Bangladesh has steadily improved to become “all-weather” friendly. China is Bangladesh’s commercial partner under this regime. From 319.66 million USD in the 2010–2011 fiscal year to 808.14 million USD in the 2015–2016 fiscal year, Bangladesh’s exports to China have grown. Bangladeshi economists estimate that the volume of bilateral commerce will reach 18 billion by 2021 if the expansion continues. In the areas of connection, communication, technology, marine security, agriculture, and information and transportation, China has emerged as Bangladesh’s reliable ally.

Bangladesh-China-related ties are not a vacuum. This observation also holds true for international politics. China has had warm and cordial relations with Bangladesh for many years. During the Qin dynasty (the first dynasty of Imperial China, which lasted from 221 to 206 BC), Bengal was a favorite destination for Chinese intellectuals, professionals, and monks. Atisa Dipankar Srijanan was a key figure in the development of Tibetan Buddhism after traveling to Tibet from Bengal. Despite numerous policy changes under Deng Xiaoping and Xi Jinping, China and Bangladesh have maintained their amicable and balanced relationship. Deng Xiaoping, the president at the time, implemented an open-up policy and economic reform in 1991. Bangladesh had just entered the globalization and apparel industry age at that time.

The first ready-made garments were produced in the 1980s. Early in the nineteenth century, Bangladesh started exporting garments. President Xi Jinping has chosen a new term. He produced the “Chinese Dream” or “Rejuvenation of China,” which shows China’s rise in a nonviolent manner. Under Xi Jinping, the Chinese government is focusing on institutionalizing China with “Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in a new era” and is giving priority to non-traditional issues like investment policy, information security, cultural linkage, the blue economy, and so on. The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s most notable soft power project that attracts international attention. Both hard and soft power are used in the massive project. You need to know that China’s foreign policy emphasizes neighborhood, non-interference, inclusivity, and a multipolar global system. These elements are being used in the president’s new policy to “strive for achievement.” Geographically, Bangladesh is crucial. India physically encloses Bangladesh. Let me first explore Bangladesh’s geopolitical prominence before talking about China’s soft power influence there. A section of the Bay of Bengal is in Bangladesh. China concentrates on the energy sector. All nations require a marine route for the importation and exportation of energy. In South Asia, Bangladesh is a superior regional center. It is simple to use the port of Chittagong as a regional marine transportation center. Conversely, China and India are both major Asian nations that compete with one another in the region. All scholars, however, agree that China is already investing in the coastal nations that border the Indian Ocean, and China and India will support and prioritize the Indian Ocean’s economy. A pipeline has already been built between China and Myanmar. There are also plans to build a parallel pipeline that will connect Chittagong and Kunming. This acts as a tactical backup plan.

China will use the regional hub to balance resource management if the United States and India begin to act as China’s enemies and block the chokepoints of Malacca and the Indian Ocean. Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister, traveled to China in 2014, and the Chinese president traveled to Bangladesh in 2016. Bangladesh confirmed its commitment to the BRI in 2016. Bangladesh believes that it should make use of its location and close proximity. According to Sarker, the government of Bangladesh believes that the project will strengthen its economy both domestically and internationally, making it more stable and more developed than other South Asian nations.

Economic Forces and Development: The meaning of soft power is to use diplomatic influence to bring various states into one’s own sphere of influence. Providing economic assistance to smaller states, bringing them into one’s own sphere, addressing their ongoing issues, and improving relations with them through such means is referred to as soft power diplomacy. These are some crucial elements, including aid, investment, trade data, and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative for the Belt and Road China used to trade with Europe and Africa along a route known as the “Silk Road” in antiquity. Reviving the historic Silk Road was a 2013 effort by Chinese President Xi Jinping. One Belt One Road (OBOR) is the name of this initiative. It is sometimes referred to as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A road is a road, while a belt is an area. Essentially, a road is present wherever there is a location. China wants one of its commerce channels to connect the entire planet. In the twenty-first century, China aims to increase trade by connecting with other nations via land and sea.

The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and the Silk Road Economic Belt span 72 countries, accounting for 33.65% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 66.09% of the world’s population as of 2018. The BRI has sparked a great deal of debate and conjecture worldwide. BRI investments have been welcomed by numerous developing and least developed nations that require infrastructure, including ports, railroads, and roadways. Despite the BRI’s investment-based goal of fostering regional collaboration, it is perceived as China’s strategy to increase its regional influence. Due to the significant increases in the costs of several proposed projects, there is criticism in some participating nations. Agricultural Development Bank of China, China Development Bank, China Exim Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Bank of China, Silk Road Fund, China Construction Bank, New Development Bank (NDB), China Export and Credit Insurance Cooperation, and Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are among the organization’s that provide funding for the Belt and Road Initiative.

The BCIM economic corridor, which was formally approved at the first intergovernmental study group conference in December 2013 in Kunming, connects Bangladesh to the BRI initiative. There are roughly 440 million people living in the 1.65 million square km region. Through road, rail, river, and aviation connections, it links Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Kolkata in India with Yunnan province in China. The chairman of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, Professor Rehman Sobhan, may be noted here for having encouraged economic cooperation within the BCIM region. As a result of his innovative concepts, the “Kunming Initiative,” a platform that eventually became the BCIM Forum, was created in the 1990s. Later, CPD carried out a number of initiatives to encourage increased cooperation in the area under his direction. The K2K automobile rally, which began in Kolkata and ended in Kunming, was an automobile rally that took place during the 11th BCIM Forum hosted by CPD in 2013. By constructing an economic corridor that connects the sub-regions of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, BCIM aimed to foster regional cooperation. Trade with Yunnan province could boost the North East Indian states through the BCIM economic corridor. From 2001 to 2021, we see that after half a decade, especially China’s investments are gradually increasing.

China’s latest diplomatic tool is culture. In recent years, it has also become one of China’s main instruments for displaying soft power. China has actively pushed cultural exchange programs, festivals, films, music, religious forums, sports, and tourism with the outside world in the 2000s, leveraging its distinctive culture and using venues for cultural interaction. Its goal has been to promote its image of peaceful rise and strengthen its soft power. Joseph Nye noted in his well-known 1988 article that a crucial component of tremendous power is soft power. He defines “soft power” as the capacity to achieve one’s goals by co-optation and attractiveness rather than force or money. The traditional focus on hard power, such as economic, political, and military force, contrasts with the idea of soft power. It includes a country’s ideology, image, foreign policy conduct, political persuasion, and—above all—its global cultural appeal. Scholars in China first presented Nye’s idea of soft power in 2001. The English version of Joseph Nye’s seminal work on soft power, Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics, was translated and released in Chinese a year later. China was regarded primarily as a nation with a unique culture but not as a major economic or military power. According to the results of a 2006 study of 10,250 persons globally, 55% of respondents predicted that China would be a major global force by 2020.

Overall, in the context of economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between the mentioned countries, it was said that Bangladesh suffered Eastern vibes through soft power from China. First of all, we discuss the economic part. This section primarily pertains to the objectives of soft power. This strategic part belongs to investment, trade, aid, and debt also. Needless to say, the impact of BRI in Bangladesh is still awesome. Due to its infrastructure development and debt underdeveloping countries, especially Bangladesh. Discussing statistics about BRI, one realises that economic intervention is another supremacist behaviour by China. As we saw because of the covid-19 pandemic, China took mask diplomacy to grow their economic hegemony over the world. The second part that would be discussed is culture, which traditionally goes to that. Cultural exchange makes one loyal to one country over another. When you read about Confucius philosophy, then you realise how to spread and inject Chinese culture through this Confucius Institute (CI), mentioned as above 400 CI had been established around the world by China. As a consequence, three CIs had also been established in Bangladesh so that it is easy to understand how much impact China’s soft power has on Bangladesh.