Bangladesh–People's Republic of China relations

Sino-Bangladeshi relations

China	Bangladesh

The bilateral relations between the People's Republic of China and the People's Republic of Bangladesh were established between late 1975 and 1976 by then President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman. Ties had been non-existent since Bangladesh's independence in 1971, owing to China's opposition to its creation. But once ties were established, both nations grew closer on both the international stage and bilateral relations over the 1980s and 1990s.

History

The People's Republic of China supported Pakistan against the Bangladesh Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War that resulted in the establishment of Bangladesh.^[1] In 1972, China exercised its veto power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to block Bangladesh's entry into the United Nations.^[1] Bangladesh had aligned itself with India and the Soviet Union, both of whom had strained relations with Pakistan and China.^[1]

Establishment of bilateral relations

With the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh on August 15, 1975, then President of Bangladesh, the successive governments distanced the country from India and the Soviet Union.^[1] At the same time, Pakistan warmed towards Bangladesh and diplomatic relations were established on January 18, 1976, its allies such as Saudi Arabia and China followed.^[1] A preliminary agreement between China and Bangladesh to establish relations was signed in late 1975 and duly established in 1976. The then-president of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman made an official visit to China in 1977.^[1]

Development of closer ties

China's move towards a more open foreign policy coincided with Bangladesh's distancing from India and the Soviet Union.^[1] Both nations grew closer on the international stage as well, finding common ground against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and Vietnam's intervention in Cambodia.^[1] Bangladesh defence services was hugely neglected during the period of Mujib government from 1972 to 1975 as their foreign policy was India centric and as a result of that the army even lacked the basic stuffs to carryout its routine operations. They were ill trained, ill fed, and ill equipped and led by an army chief, General Shafiullah, who was more eager to please Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, then President, who was ferociously anti army and did not consider it necessary to maintain a standing armed forces for Bangladesh because—1. He personally harboured deep hatred for army because of his past experience with the Pakistan military 2. According to the '25 year friendship treaty, signed between India and the government of Bangladesh in 1972, Bangladesh lost its sovereign right to raise a standing army for national defense 3. Most of the leaders of Awami League considered India a dear friendly country, considering their safe haven in India during the liberation struggle, and the close tactical and financial support it received during. Thus the Awami League was politically and harmoniously subordinate to India, never even considered or perceive any threat from India, 4. Keeping India happy was much more significant as policy, than to work for the development of the Bangladesh armed forces.

But as soon as the political scenario of Bangladesh changed in 1975, the new government adopted a more proactive and independent foreign policy and felt the need to discontinue the clauses of '25 year friendship treaty' that were detrimental to national security. So, the defense budget saw a sharp increase and a new source of military hardware was found in the shape of China. The Chinese government was able to supply military hardware that were soundingly reasonable and whose technological sophistication was suitable for a newly independent nation, with a destroyed economy from following India's socialist economy. In the meantime, Soviet Union closed its door to Bangladesh. So, with its fragile economy, Bangladesh became totally dependent on China for reliable weapons.

The new government upgraded 5 existing brigades to full divisions with Chinese weapons and training. New workshops were built across the country for the repair and maintenance of the weapons. High level military delegations, along with political leaders, made frequent visits to each others' countries to consolidate the new and promising relations between the two Asian nations.

Since then, China has been Bangladesh's closest defense ally and the military coopertation between the two nations has reached the tactical level and there is much scope to elevate it to the strategic level for the benefit of both the nations. The Chinese political and military leaders being well aware ofBangladesh's unique central geographic location and sea ports have given her strategic importance in South and South East Asian context, fully supported it. Bangladesh and China have signed a defense cooperation agreement in 2002 and 2004 to broaden the scope of military relations between the two allies.

As a result of the agreement, Bangladesh has already received military technology from China and the production license for Type 81 automatic rifle, which is renamed BD-08. This thread will monitor military cooperation between the two nations and its future direction to understand how the existing tactical relation is taking the shape of a full blown strategic relation that will surely affect the military balance of the region in the long run.

By the mid-1980s, China had forged close commercial and cultural ties with Bangladesh and also supplied it with military aid and equipment.^[1] The then-president of Bangladesh Hossain Mohammad Ershad was received with much fanfare and warmth when he visited Beijing in July 1987. A Bangladesh-China friendship bridge was constructed and inaugurated over river Buriganga connecting Dhaka-Munshigonj by the Chinese as token of this newly advancing diplomatic and military relaionship. On October 4, 2000, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (Bangladesh) issued a postal stamp marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-China diplomatic relations. By this time, China had provided economic assistance totaling US$ 217 million to Bangladesh and the bilateral trade had reached a value mounting to USD 715 million dollars.^[2] In 2002, the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao made an official visit to Bangladesh and both countries declared 2005 as the "Bangladesh-China Friendship Year."^[3] The two countries signed nine different bi-lateral agreements to increase there mutual relationship.^[4]

On Bangladeshi invitation China was added as an observer in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).^[5] After Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh in 2007, China donated US$ 1 million for relief and reconstruction in cyclone-hit areas.^[6]

Economic relations

Bangladesh is third largest trade partner of China in South Asia. But, the bilateral trade between them is highly tilted in favor of Beijing.^[7] Bilateral trade reached as high as USD 3.19 billion in 2006, reflecting a growth of 28.5% between 2005 and 2006. China has bolstered its economic aid to Bangladesh to address concerns of trade imbalance; in 2006, Bangladesh's exports to China amounted only about USD 98.8 million.^[8] Under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), China removed tariff barriers to 84 types of commodities imported from Bangladesh and is working to reduce tariffs over the trade of jute and textiles, which are Bangladesh's chief domestic products.^[8] China has also offered to construct nuclear power plants in Bangladesh to help meet the country's growing energy needs, while also seeking to aid the development of Bangladesh's natural gas resources.^{[9] [10]} China's mainly imports raw materials from Bangladesh like leather, cotton textiles, fish, etc. China's major exports to Bangladesh include textiles, machinery and electronic products, cement, fertilizer, tyre, raw silk, maize, etc.^[11]

In 2005, Chinese premier Wen Jiabao visited Bangladesh on an official visit on April 7 and 8. Various agreements were signed during this visit. On transportation side, China and Bangladesh have agreed to start a direct air transport route between Dhaka and Beijing via Kunming. Also Kunming-Chittagong road link through Myanmar is also considered.^[7] The Chinese premier readily agreed to constructing the Di-Aluminium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer factory in Chittagong entirely on concessional lending instead of on supplier's credit.^[12]

In 2007, Chinese Assistant Minister of Commerce, Wang Chao visited Bangladesh with the 39-member purchase delegation. It is the biggest purchase delegation ever to Bangladesh with over 10 companies listed in China's top 500 and some of them in world's top 500. Delegation is reported to have purchased Bangladeshi goods worth over USD $50 million.^[13] Both countries accepted to build a "Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center" in Dhaka.^[13]

Bangladesh's relationship with China has historically affected India in one way or another. In 2007, news reports claimed that China was planning to divert the water of Brahmaputra river to its north-west regions. The Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh met Chinese president Hu Jintao to schedule the first meeting on this matter. Adding to India's voice was Bangladesh, which would be deeply affected if China were to actually go ahead with its plans.^[14]

Military relations

The Bangladesh Army has been equipped with Chinese tanks, its navy has Chinese frigates and missile boats and the Bangladesh Air Force flies Chinese fighter jets. In 2002, China and Bangladesh signed a “Defence Cooperation Agreement” which covers military training and defence production. In 2006, in a report submitted to the United Nations by China, for its exports and imports of major conventional arms revealed Dhaka is emerging as a major buyer of weapons made in China. China sold 65 large caliber artillery systems, 16 combat aircraft and 114 missile and related equipment to Bangladesh in 2005. Besides this, some 200 small arms like pistols and sub-machine guns have also been imported along with regular 82-mm mortars.^[15]

In 2008, Bangladesh set up an anti-ship missile launch pad near the Chittagong Port with assistance from China. The maiden missile test was performed on May 12, 2008 with active participation of Chinese experts. It successfully test-fired anti-ship missile C-802A with a strike range of 120 km from the frigate BNS Osman near Kutubdia Island in the Bay of Bengal. BNS Osman which was commissioned in 1989, is a 1500-ton Chinese built Jianghu class Frigate, and the C-802A missile is a modified version of Chinese Ying Ji-802 with weight reduced from 815 kg to 715 kg in order to increase the strike range from 42 km to 120 km.

See also

• Chinese people in Bangladesh

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Bangladesh - China and Other Asian Nations
2. ^ "Dhaka Issues Memorial Stamps on Bangladesh-China Diplomatic Relationship". People's Daily. October 4, 2000. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200010/04/eng20001004_51841.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
3. ^ "Bangladesh-China" Friendship Year
4. ^ "Bangladesh, China sign nine agreements". The Hindu. April 9, 2005. http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/09/stories/2005040901991600.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
5. ^ "China pledges to further promote China-Bangladesh ties". Xinhua. June 7, 2006. http://english.people.com.cn/200606/07/eng20060607_271586.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
6. ^ "China donates US$1 mln to Bangladesh". CCTV. 2007-11-21. http://www.cctv.com/english/20071121/102321.shtml. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Changing Dynamics of Sino-Bangladesh Relations". southasiaanalysis group. 21. 04. 2005. http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers14%5Cpaper1345.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
8. ^ ^{a b} China grants over USD 10 million aid to Bangladesh
9. ^ China's March on South Asia
10. ^ China keen to build Rooppur nuclear plant
11. ^ "China and Bangladesh". The Department of Asian Affairs, People's Republic of China. The Department of Asian Affairs, People's Republic of China. 2003-08-25. http://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/yzs/gjlb/2681/t15842.htm. Retrieved 18 January 2010. 
12. ^ Mohammad Mahabubur Rahman, Dr. Kazi Ihtesham (May 23, 2005). "Sino-Bangla relations and Bangladesh's Look East policy". The Daily Star. http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/05/23/d505231501126.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
13. ^ ^{a b} "China, Bangladesh to improve bilateral ties". The Hindu. July 24, 2007. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200707240363.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
14. ^ "Water-sharing clouds Indo-China ties". Times of India. 12 June 2007. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Water-sharing_clouds_Indo-China_ties/articleshow/2116307.cms. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
15. ^ "Breaking 10-year silence, China reveals it is No 1 arms". Indian Express. September 9, 2007. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=255381. Retrieved 2008-09-15.