China, Bangladesh and Pakistan are now preparing to surround India together and many major decisions have been taken in the first meeting of the three countries in this regard. Let us tell you that the meeting of the tripartite Foreign Secretaries held in Beijing has introduced a new chapter of geopolitics in South Asia. If seen, this is an initiative in which all the three countries have not only considered regional cooperation and strategic balance through diplomatic dialogue, but have also devised a strategy to reduce India’s influence.
Talking about the background and objectives of the meeting, let us tell you that China hosted this initiative, as it wants to deepen its relations with Pakistan and Bangladesh at the same level. This step is being seen as China’s growing activism in South Asia and India’s siege. It is being told that in the meeting, Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to China, emphasizing the second phase of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and cooperation in security. At the same time, Bangladesh, has also paved the way for widespread cooperation by signing nine agreements with China.
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According to reports, Bangladesh signed nine MoUs with China, including economic, technical cooperation, cultural exchange, health, media and education. In addition, China has agreed to promote free trade system (FTA), investment, manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh and Bangladesh. There are also reports that Bangladesh can buy a medium range air defense system and missile from China, which will increase its military capacity. At the same time, China has talked about providing special weapon production technology to Bangladesh, which will strengthen the defense industry base of Dhaka. In addition, Pakistan and China will further increase the synergy in many fields including defense cooperation, agricultural science and energy under CPEC-2.0.
Talking about the impact on regional security and strategic impact from this meeting, let us tell you that this tripartite initiative is being seen as a direct challenge on India’s diplomacy, as the three countries can circle India together. India is particularly monitoring Bangladesh’s defense deals and CPEC-2.0 projects. Let us tell you that China’s influence in South Asia is constantly taking widespread form, especially in economic, military and geopolitical directions. Apart from this, Bangladesh is now looking forward to adopting a balanced strategy like India, but at the same time it is also joining the block of China-Pakistan. At the same time, Pakistan is already dependent on China in terms of CPEC-2.0 and defense cooperation and its status has strengthened by this meeting.
Let us tell you that China, Pakistan and Bangladesh have also agreed to carry forward cooperation based on good neighbors, equality and principles of mutual belief in the inaugural tripartite meeting of officials of their foreign ministries. China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sun Waidong, Bangladesh acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddiqui and Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui attended a meeting held in Kunming, the capital of the southern Yunnan province of China. A press release by China’s Foreign Ministry said that Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting through video link.
Let us also tell you that China’s new strategic initiative to bring two South Asian countries living in India’s neighborhood closer has come a month after a similar tripartite meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to a Chinese release, in his address, Sun Vedong said that both Bangladesh and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends and good partners of China and are important partners in high quality ‘Belt and Road’ cooperation. Sun Vedong, who was a Chinese ambassador to Pakistan and India, said that the cooperation between China, Pakistan and Bangladesh is in line with the common interests of the people of the three countries and can contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. The Chinese release stated that the three sides exchanged ideas widely on China-Pakistan-Bangladesh tripartite cooperation and they agreed to establish a work group to implement the consent formed during the meeting. According to the Chinese release, he also emphasized that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation is based on true multilateralism and open regionalism, which is not targeted on any third party.
Let us tell you that this trilateral talks took place at a time when Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is strengthening his relations with China and seeking help from Beijing on various fronts, which is clearly an attempt to reduce India’s dependence on India. Yunus, who took charge after the Sheikh Hasina government’s outstanding last year, has also tried to establish a close ties with Pakistan and established relations with Pakistan for the first time with Bangladesh, separated after the 1971 war. At the same time, a press release by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that Baloch appreciated the Chinese side for holding the inaugural meeting of the tripartite system.
Let us also remind you that in Kunming, Sun Vedong also met the acting minister Haji Mawalvi Abdul Salaam Hanfi, the acting minister of the interim government of Afghanistan and held bilateral meetings with Ruhul Alam Siddiqui and Imran Ahmed Siddiqui.
However, the alliance of China-Pakistan and Bangladesh is a new challenge for India. If seen, this tripartite meeting is not just a formal event, but it is going to further increase China’s influence in South Asia. From economic agreements to defense cooperation, the partnership of the three countries will already change complex equations. In the coming months, it will be important to keep the depth of this alliance and its effects. By the way, India is also in constant touch with China. It is believed that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh can travel to China next week to attend the conference of Shanghai Cooperation Sangathan (SCO). This will be an Indian minister’s first visit to China after a serious tension in relations due to military deadlock over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh in May 2020. Let us tell you that the conference of SCO Defense Ministers will be held from 25 to 27 June in Qingdao. It is believed that Rajnath Singh can hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong June during the SCO conference.