China seeks Bangladeshi support against US-led military alliance in South Asia
China on Tuesday stressed the need for Bangladesh to make joint efforts against the formation of a US-led military alliance to maintain “hegemony” in South Asia.
Chinese Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe emphasized Tuesday during a meeting with President Abdul Hamid in Dhaka.
‘To jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the two sides [Bangladesh and China] should make joint efforts against powers outside the region establishing a military alliance in Southeast Asia and practicing hegemonism, â€General Wei said, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.
Contacted about the authenticity of the Chinese minister’s statement, a Bangladesh government official said General Wei spoke about Chinese views on issues involving the Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) being propagated by the United States. United.
Wei also mentioned China’s relationship with India and the United States in various aspects.
A group of four countries known as the Quad – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – have spread for the IPS for allegedly containing China’s influence through its initiative “Belt and Road” in the region with a declared emphasis on promoting a common vision of the four countries of an Indo-Pacific region “free, open, inclusive, peaceful and secure”, according to diplomatic sources.
Dignitaries from Australia, Japan and the United States often lobby for Bangladesh’s involvement in IPS, while the government of Bangladesh is reluctant to engage in rivalries between powerful countries at regional and regional levels. international.
“We do not want to engage in international rivalries,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said recently.
Bangladesh may be willing to engage in international and regional efforts that can advance economic and trade interests, he said.
General Wei was in Dhaka for a brief visit lasting several hours as part of his tri-national tour of Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
He also questioned the chief of staff of the Bangladeshi army, General Abdul Aziz.
At the meetings, he expressed China’s intention to continue strategic cooperation in the development of the armed forces of Bangladesh.