China-Bangladesh Defence Cooperation: Arms Trade and Military Infrastructure
In the past decade, Bangladesh has emerged as an important player in China's political expansion strategy. Military cooperation between the two states in form of arms supply and construction of military infrastructure has increased in past few years. China's growing closeness to Bangladesh is significant for China's military realism. Such a strategic partnership with Dhaka also provides Beijing with added leverage to check Indian forces, especially in a time when the expansion to control the Indo-Pacific has been has been at an all-time high.
It is no secret that South Asia has gained prominence in global politics. China and India have emerged as the largest players in the region and have since a long time tried various manoeuvres to increase their clout in the region and establish their power. One of the important developments of this rat race to achieve the power, has been the focus on connectivity for transfer of goods and services for the purpose of both trade and military. China-Bangladesh relations have gone under a dramatic change. During the 1971 liberation of Bangladesh, China supported Pakistan. But today, Bangladesh considers China an all-weather friend and a trusted ally, and the two countries have established a strong strategic partnership. China’s support to Bangladesh initially was just in the sphere of development and economics but over the years, both the countries have also established grounds for military cooperation.
Defence ties have become a central part of the partnership between the two countries. Bangladesh is the only country which has signed a defence agreement. China is also the biggest arms supplier to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is familiar with Chinese arms, because after the liberation war, the Bangladesh Army inducted the repatriated officers of Pakistan army who were familiar with Chinese arms. Hence, Chinese arms are in huge demand in Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi Army is equipped with tanks, fighter air crafts, missile launchers and several weapons systems from China. In 2008, Bangladesh set up an anti-missile launch pad near Chittagong Port with the aid from China and missile test was performed in May with the help of Chinese experts. The test fire of the 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 from successful. In 2014, the visiting Vice Chairman of the Military Commission of Chinese Communist Party, General Qiliang signed four military agreements with Bangladesh. According to the agreements, Chinese military would support the Bangladeshi forces with training and equipment. They would also set language laboratory at the Bangladesh University of Professionals, run by the armed forces. There have since been several exchanges of military visits at high levels.
In 2016, when the maritime border dispute escalated between Myanmar and Bangladesh, both the countries increased their naval forces in the Bay of Bengal. China took advantage of this situation and supplied weapons and arms to Bangladesh while India did the same with Myanmar. China has also emerged as Bangladesh's highest trading partner. In 2016, two 1,350 tonne Type 056 corvettes, BNS Shadhinota and BNS Prottoy, built by China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company, became a part of the Bangladesh Navy. Each ship is armed with 76 mm and 30 mm naval guns as well as C-802A anti-ship missiles (ASMs) and a FN-3000N surface-to-air missile system. While surely, they both were getting economic profits from the sale, the increased militarisation in the region with the backed allies was nothing but a show of military power.
The arms race in the Bay of Bengal in also led to Bangladesh signing the Submarine Deal in 2017. As a part of the deal, Bangladesh bought two submarines from China at $205 million and help Bangladesh to construct its first submarine base. This development came at a very crucial time when the tensions between Myanmar and Bangladesh were at an all-time high due to the maritime border issue and Rohingya crises and both the countries were building up their naval forces. As a part of the deal, the Chinese would also impart training to the Bangladesh personnel to operate the submarines and the base. By signing the agreement in 2017, Bangladesh agreed to be a part of Belt and Road Initiative of China and also promised to invest more in the development process of Bangladesh.
A new military deal was signed between Bangladesh and China in 2018. According to the new contract, China is to deliver 23 units of Hongdu K-8W intermediate training jets to the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Myanmar had purchased 50 units of the K-8W in the past, which put the BAF under pressure to also buy more training jets to advance its capability and quantity.
'Forces Goal 2030' plans to make Bangladesh Air Force a technologically advanced, well trained and well-equipped force that can deter any threat to Bangladesh airspace. In order to ensure efficiency, two separate commands, 'Southern Air Command' and 'Northern Air Command' have been set up.
China has played a pivotal role in the development of Bangladesh's military and navy bases by investing in the port and air base infrastructure and by supplying the arms and ammunition.
Nevertheless, the Indian factor is a very prominent in the China-Bangladesh relationship. There is a large section in Bangladesh which supports the growing closeness to China to counterbalance India. For China, developing relationship with Bangladesh will not only increase its clout in the South Asian region but will also help in mapping the Indian forces and having a dominant presence in India's backyard. Also, one cannot ignore that Bangladesh is strategically located near the Northeast India where China and India have a disputed border (Arunachal Pradesh). India has increased its ties with Myanmar who is a rival of Bangladesh in the wake of growing Sino-Bangladesh ties.
But despite close relationship with China, Bangladesh has been careful to balance its relationship with India. But the successive Indian government have failed to deliver their promises which has reduced the trust of Bangladesh on India. Moreover, the Citizenship Amendment Act as well as the National Register of Citizens have serious implications for Bangladesh, but the Modi government pressed ahead without consulting the Bangladeshi government or heeding its concerns.
The Teesta water management project is reported to include building a reservoir in Bangladesh. This will enable Dhaka to store water for use in the lean season and will reduce Bangladesh’s dependence on India to a certain extent. It lays bare India’s poor handling of its relations with Bangladesh, and should China fund and implement the project swiftly, will show China in a positive light. New Delhi needs to take cognizance of this and need to come up with measures to maintain its ties with Dhaka, and only time will show us how New Delhi will do that.
Pic courtesy- Hasnan Monir BD at unsplash.com
(The views expressed are personal.)
