Will the Chief adviser's visit to China cause conflict with the West?

The Chief Adviser to the Interim Government, Dr Mohammad Yunus, is going to China on a 4-day state visit on March 26. This is Dr Mohammad Yunus' first bilateral state visit after assuming the responsibility of running the state. Therefore, this visit is of special significance for various reasons. This visit is an important issue in the geopolitical context of our country. A kind of activity of the United States can be seen to surround China. That activity continues. This activity continues, and under America’s initiative, the Quad alliance has been formed. The Quad, a coalition led by the United States, includes the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India. It is said that the Quad will work to ensure the security of its member countries. After being elected as the President of the United States for the second time, Donald Trump has started a trade war. It has already been announced that additional tariffs will be imposed on imported products from China, Canada and Brazil. The purpose of this trade war of the United States is to reduce the dominance of Chinese products in the country's domestic market. The economic conflict between China and the United States has been going on for a long time. It has become more widespread during Trump's time.

In this context, Dr Mohammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, is going on a state visit to China. China has shown particular interest in Dr Mohammad Yunus’s visit. They will send a special plane for him, signaling China’s strong interest in this proposed visit. China has substantial investments in Bangladesh, and it is assisting us in development work. Various Chinese products are used in our country. In the past, Bangladesh used to import the most goods from India, but now China holds the top position in Bangladesh’s import market. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the bilateral trade volume between Bangladesh and China was 2.25 trillion Bangladeshi Taka. During the same period, the Bangladesh-India bilateral trade volume stood at 1.46 trillion Taka. In that year, China’s share in Bangladesh’s total imports increased by 15.17%, while Bangladesh-India trade decreased by 8.47%. In the fiscal year 2022-23, Bangladesh exported goods worth 677 million U.S. dollars to China, while importing goods worth 22.90 billion U.S. dollars from China. After the fall of the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina, tensions have risen in our bilateral relations with India. In this scenario, Dr Mohammad Yunus is going on a state visit to China.

Dr Mohammad Yunus is primarily associated with the Western bloc. He believes in a free-market economy and liberal economics, while China believes in a socialist economy. Therefore, there is a clear difference in economic beliefs between Dr Yunus and China. To counterbalance the influence of the United States, China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa have formed the BRICS alliance, which later expanded to include other countries. The number of BRICS members is expected to grow further, making the alliance stronger. BRICS is seeking to introduce a new currency, which, if successful, could reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar. The United States would never want the global dominance of the U.S. dollar to be undermined. In this situation, the competition or conflict between China, Russia, and other countries with the United States may intensify in the future. The formation of BRICS, led by China and Russia, has created the possibility of diminishing Western hegemony. As a result, the United States will naturally try to curb China’s growing development. The BRICS initiative to introduce a new single currency has given rise to new hopes among anti-imperialist countries.

For strategic reasons, the United States wants to maintain good relations with India, as India’s support in South Asia is crucial in dealing with China. Dr Mohammad Yunus maintained good relations with the Biden administration and the Clinton Foundation. He has been promoting social business globally. Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair are associated with Yunus’s social business initiatives. Bangladesh may have some technical relations with China, but the main concern with Dr Yunus’s visit to China is whether it will create any conflict with the West. While working to develop bilateral relations with China, Dr Yunus certainly does not want to create any conflicts with the United States or the Western world. It remains to be seen how Dr Yunus’s visit to China will impact Bangladesh’s geopolitical position.


Dr Yunus’s visit to China is also linked to the Myanmar issue. Myanmar is becoming a failed state. The Arakan Army has become influential along the Bangladesh border. Bangladesh shares a nearly 200-kilometer border with Myanmar, and much of this border area has fallen under the control of the Arakan Army. The Arakan Army is fighting against Myanmar’s military junta, and more than 80% of Arakan State is now under its control. The UN Secretary-General visited Bangladesh and observed the Rohingya camps. India and China both have investments in Arakan State. Thus, Arakan State is facing a multi-dimensional crisis. It is believed that China has significant influence over the Arakan Army. Since Arakan is close to Bangladesh’s border, this issue directly affects our country.

Bangladesh shares cultural and ethnic ties with Arakan State. At one time, the entire Chattogram region and the Sandwip area were part of Arakan State. The developments in Arakan are somewhat connected to our political situation. The fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina happened because of her own wrongdoings, but the United States also had a role in it, albeit indirectly. Even though the U.S. may deny its involvement, it is not credible. The U.S. played a significant role in the downfall of Sheikh Hasina, and whether this was done for the sake of Bangladesh’s democracy or for its own geopolitical interests will become clear later. The United States may have a specific geopolitical plan concerning Myanmar. If such a plan exists, it could create a dangerous situation for our country, which could harm the future of our democratic system.

We want democracy. The people of our country have sacrificed for democracy time and again. For any reason, we do not want unrest or a war situation in Bangladesh. Our foreign policy is based on the principle of "friendship with all, malice towards none." In practice, we want to implement this principle correctly. At any cost, we want to protect our independence and sovereignty. For geopolitical reasons, Bangladesh does not want to become a pawn or servant of any external power. We desire peaceful coexistence throughout the world. Why should we encircle China? We want peaceful competition with China and any other country. We cannot accept any situation of conflict. We should not adopt any coercive policies against anyone in trade, investment, or any other area. Competition should be peaceful. We aim for development but not at the cost of hindering the development of others.

Mohammad Shah Alam: Politician & President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh
Transcription: M.A. Khalek