scorecardresearch
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Support Our Journalism
HomeOpinionGlobal PrintHere’s what China is doing in Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan. It doesn’t look...

Here’s what China is doing in Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan. It doesn’t look good for India

New Delhi is worried that S. Asia, once very much under its spell, could be slipping from its grasp. The key lies in PM Modi’s charisma now.

Follow Us :
Text Size:

The Chinese are not just inside Indian territory, they seem to be closing in and around India as well. From Afghanistan in the north-west to Nepal in the north to Bangladesh in the east, the Chinese are no longer just expanding influence in South Asia, they are close to becoming its pre-eminent power.

Less than 24 hours ago, India received another jolt to her regional ambitions as Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi invited China’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Liu Jian, to Islamabad to help end the 19-year-war in that country. Qureshi is today meeting a Taliban delegation, led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar – who the Pakistanis kept in a jail safe-house for more than eight years before releasing him back to the Taliban in 2018 – to set the stage for the meeting with Liu.

Back in the east, in Bangladesh, the Chinese have been wooing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her powerful army long enough for her to consider an equidistance between Beijing and New Delhi.

A complex mix of airport contracts (the Chinese have just won the tender to build a second terminal in Sylhet, nearby India), defence agreements — which include an ultra-modern submarine base called BNS Sheikh Hasina in Cox’s Bazaar, a new naval base in Patkhauli and the delivery of a Chinese Corvette to strengthen its naval forces — and 97 per cent duty-free access for Bangladeshi goods, have made China not just Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, but also its largest investor.

In Nepal, meanwhile, a report said that China had occupied large tracts of land in seven districts bordering the country – in Dolakha, Gorkha, Darchula, Humla, Sindhupalchowk, Sankhuwasabha and Rasuwa – pushing the Nepali boundary further south. However, Nepal strongly denied these claims and the newspaper apologised for publishing it. Beijing is also pushing Kathmandu to sign a memorandum to seal a 2019 draft agreement allowing both countries to survey and map Mount Everest.


Also read: Pakistan invites Taliban, China to discuss Afghanistan peace talks aimed at ending 19-yr war


Bangladesh sends a message

So even as China digs its heels in Ladakh, reinforcing physical infrastructure and airlifting troops to guard the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla to Bangladesh last week on a special aircraft with messages of peace and friendship.

Certainly, there’s something special about Bangladesh. There’s the 1971 blood tie, the fact that Bangladesh nestles into the Bay of Bengal and is the early transition into Southeast Asia. When India looks east, it first espies Bangladesh.

But when Foreign Secretary Shringla’s plane landed, no senior official of any consequence came to receive him, or see him off. In sharp contrast, when a team of 10 Chinese doctors arrived in Dhaka to help Bangladeshis combat the coronavirus in June, foreign minister A.K. Abdul Momen came to the airport to welcome them.

According to the Bangladeshi media, Hasina kept Shringla waiting for several hours before finally seeing him. No photos were released to the media of their meeting – the only ones that found its way to the newspapers was a photo of Shringla in Dhaka in March. Nor was there a proper briefing to the Bangladeshi media afterwards by Hasina’s office, except for a couple of predictable statements. Shringla came quietly and left quietly.

If this was a diplomatic reprimand by Hasina, the message was loud and clear. Fact is, Shringla is well-liked in Dhaka where he was High Commissioner from 2016-2019. He knows everyone across the political spectrum. It seems the implied rebuke was not personal.


Also read: India, China work on date for next round of talks as CDS Rawat explores ‘military options’


A break in ties

One key reason for the missing warmth is the Home minister Amit Shah’s charge in 2018 that illegal immigrants in Assam are like “deemak” or termites who take away the jobs of locals; Shah repeated the charge in West Bengal during the 2019 campaign, adding that if the BJP came to power, it would throw all infiltrators into the Bay of Bengal.

For a prime minister whose Awami League party has been joined at the hip with India since 1971, Shah’s remarks were not just a cold shower, they undermined her. They put at risk the affections of a whole political party in power in a subcontinent India likes to call her own.

Hasina had already been tempted by Chinese president Xi Jinping’s $24 billion generosity when he came visiting in 2016. When she visited China in mid-2019, premier Li Keqiang promised to better synergise China’s Belt and Road with Bangladesh’s development strategy. The Sylhet airport came in April this year. Less than a fortnight ago, China agreed to fund a massive project for the management of the Teesta river for nearly $1billion – a river that flows into Bangladesh from north Bengal.


Also read: Covid vaccine, rail link — India looks to reset Delhi-Dhaka ties amid growing China presence


Time is now

Certainly, India hasn’t lost Bangladesh – at least, not yet – notwithstanding all the goodies the Chinese are offering. There are several connectivity projects underway, the most recent being the movement of cargo from Kolkata to Agartala, via Chittagong port.

Just like the fact that India hasn’t lost Afghanistan – at least, not yet – despite the fact that Pakistan is very much back in the game, brokering the future with its good friends, the Taliban, with a little help from Big Brother China.

Clearly, New Delhi is worried that the neighbourhood, once very much under its spell, could be slipping from its grasp. The key, of course, lies in PM Modi improving political ties with leaders in the neighbourhood and keeping the atavistic tendencies of his party, the BJP, in check. Will he be able to do it?

Views are personal.

This article has been updated to reflect changes.

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube, Telegram & WhatsApp

Support Our Journalism

India needs fair, non-hyphenated and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. ThePrint – with exceptional reporters, columnists and editors – is doing just that.

Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.

Whether you live in India or overseas, you can take a paid subscription by clicking here.

Support Our Journalism

104 COMMENTS

  1. It is very well true that Modi ji has alienated India from socialistic economic system and countries who have leaning to leftist ideology . Modi ji has now completely aligned India to America and countries in American Group. He appears to be ready taking direct confrontation with China with the help of Israel,Japan and Australia. Modi ji`s Hindutv is limited only to election propaganda and capturing the seat of prime minister and it has no role at all in foreign policy .Amit Shah and his coitrie is number one fool who is spoiling the whole game of Modi. This contradiction in ministry is making India weak.

  2. The sum total is the BJP cannot manage good relations with any neighbours – even Hindu Nepal. When they cannot manage good relations between Indians, how will they know how to build relations with neighbours ?

    The BJP is run and followed by angry, delusional Hindus.

  3. These small countries – Pak, Bdesh, Nepal, Srilanka – have no identity of their own, except that the former two are famous for radical islam and terrorists. Basically, all these populations are originally hindus, now turned into followers of alien faith and values and hence struggling for own identity. There lies the problem and here comes the deveil – the atheist chinaman – peddling these unfortunate people towards new land of opportunity; yes, allegiance to CCP. China will usurp all these lands, except India, and this may come at enormous cost of their bleeding resources and population. Ke sera sera.

  4. Enough is enough, now Hindus will no more suppressed by Islamic terrorists or any other country. We will fight up to our last blood and if needed we have power to destroy this whole world for our own Survival. Our Dharmagranth- Ma Geeta preaching us that there is no harm to destroy or kill Adharma (bad people/ bad work) from this world. So whoever will come on way will die his own death. Now India is more stronger under the leadership of Honorable Modiji and Mr. Shaha. We all Indians are with our PM and our Military. If needed we are ready to on border to protect our country. This is not a Country of Neharu who allowed Chinese to encroached our land, this is land of Hindus who have enough capacity to teach lessons to anyone. So be careful onwards…. So say Jai Hindu Rashtra….

  5. Many saying Amit shah said this or bjp RSS doing this that.china is also tackling Muslim’s problem that too with high handedness.if Bangladesh is so pure, why is it member of oic, Muslim group.if infiltrators r not so bad, y trying to send rohingyas, keep them.diplomatic talks on economy &other things should b dealt. But on religious matters we don’t need to be so politically correct always. That’s how Muslim’s infiltrate all d societies. While Islamic countries r opaque to others to infiltrate.

  6. It is high time that Modi tells Amit Shah to shut his trap on foreign affairs and inter religious matters.
    He has vitiated the atmosphere here and abroad. It is still not irreversible but the silence of the PM is strange.
    Evidently Modi owes a lot to Shah from his governance in Gujarat so he gives him a free hand and cannot stop him from opening his mouth.
    Modi must immdiately take steps personally to get our friendly neighbours banck on board. Mere mouthing statements will not suffice with China being so actively courting our neighbours.

  7. 1)Bangladesh is not Pakistan. Give money and weapons Pakistan ll do anything against India. Bangladesh has its own interests. We should be happy if Bangladesh prospers. A progressive state will not involve in war or terror. You can see that with Pakistan. With low socioeconomic/ education status it has become breeding ground for terror.
    2) Let China splurge it’s wealth and loose money why should we care. If we are strong economically , technologically and militarily then they won’t dare look in the eye. India should concentrate on technology advancement with more private players coming in.
    3) No country will fight wars for China how much ever money they give. They might be able to set up few more military bases even those are not permanent.
    4) We better concentrate on our economy than worry about China. China has bigger head aches.

  8. With all its size, India is actually worse than many sub saharan countries in Africa in terms of all socioeconomic indicators
    We were never under the spell of this monstrosity.
    The ultimate failure of India is not far away,
    A blessing for her neighbours

  9. As long as India produces cheap goods, Bangladesh will buy. They do not like Hindus that is for sure. But they want to export their illegal people to India to make Muslim majority states in West Bengal. Can India afford to do that? NO.

    • As if Modi Sha, kapil Mishra etc like Muslims. Love should be mutual. One thing is very sure unless modi changes his atitude and regin in(if he can) the RSS and the likes India’s trajectory is downwards

      • India’s trajectory is downwards, but Hindus are delusional about Modi and themselves.

        They believe Modi has put them on the world stage and the whole world is in awe of Hindus.

        In Modi’s foreign tours, all he did was to attend some grand parties with large NRI Hindu crowds in some stadia. Hindus abroad and Hindus in India too saw that as an achievement and change in India’s profile.

  10. 1.GIIANT INDIA FORCEFULLY SNACHED AND OCCUPIED ALMOST 80000 HECTORS OF NEPALS TERRITORY IN 157 LOCATIONS FROM ITS MOST SMALL,MOST LOYAL AND MOST TRUSTED NEIGHBOR NEPAL.2.THE NON STOP CONSTRUCTION OF ILLIGAL EMBARKMENTS, DAMS AND ROAD BY MR. MODI ENCROACHING THE LINE OF CONTROLL BETWEEN NEPAL AND INDIA BOARDER HAVE SUBMERGED(during the time of monsoon) THOUSANDS OF HECTORS OF NEPALS FORTILE LAND AND HUNDREADS OF NEPALI VILLAGES NEAR NEPAL INDIA BOARDER.3.MR. MODI IS IN A MISSON TO SWALLOW NEPALS VIRGIN FRESH WATER RESOURCES INCLUDING THE TERAI REGION OF NEPAL.4.MR. MODI IS THE MOST HATED PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA IN THE HISTORY OF NEPAL INDIA RELATIONSHIP.

  11. I think India should strengthen itself and use its resources to develope India economically and militarily. If money is only criteria than India cannot spend its money like China and should not do so as friends brought through money will never last long. Increase relationship with other developed countries instead of waiting its resouces on nebeighours. Nobody including China will dare to attack us if we are strong. Izrael is example.

  12. Not sure what the problem is if India’s neighbors go with China or any other country. After all they are free nations and can choose as they wish. The Indian government’s primary responsibility is to it’s own citizens well being. India doesn’t need internationalist PMs who are out to sort out the world while their own backyard burns. Focus on healthcare, education, economy of Indian citizens. Neighbors will take care of themselves. Even if all neighbors become Chinese puppets, India will not be affected if it prioritises it’s own citizens.

  13. Modi has no charisma but Shroud religion card of Ram Mandir Janumbhumi, was projected and promoted by Ambani Media blast for the last 7, 8 years. Which snatched away the top BJP leader Advani from the top slot. Yatra of Advani against the Babri Mosque made him more popular among RSS, Hindutava. Don’t understand why Indians have a misconception of being superpower/Regional, while there is one Billion poverty-stricken almost barefoot Indians have been seen recently by the world over. Poverty spreading more rampant in the last 6 years of the Modi government due to massive unemployment, stagnant economy, more spending on defense of $60 Billion while having massive poverty. No foreign policy works for a good while neighbors treated accordingly. China did not consider India as its enemy until containment policy around China and the Doklam episode have occurred while having a $60 Billion trade with India, India turning more Communal day by day, we may see a civil war due to communal rise and Demonizing of Indian Muslims of 40 color. There have been about 65 thousand Communal Riots that have been occurred since 1947 according to the Home Ministry of India.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular