China refutes US claims on its growing influence in South Asia
Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh has once again rejected recent remarks made by the US Ambassador to Bangladesh regarding China’s growing influence in Bangladesh and South Asia.
In a statement, the embassy said Ambassador Brent T. Christensen’s comments, which suggested that the United States is concerned about growing Chinese influence in the region and aims to warn Bangladesh of potential risks, were “the same old tune” and carried “ulterior motives.”
“China and Bangladesh respect and support each other and have set a fine example of friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation,” the statement said.
Highlighting China’s engagement with Bangladesh and other South Asian countries, the statement said, “China is a trusted partner of South Asian countries, and its friendly cooperation with South Asian countries has safeguarded peace and stability in the region, promoted development and revitalisation, has been supported and welcomed by the peoples in the region.”
The embassy added that China-Bangladesh relations are not directed at any third party and will not be swayed by external pressures.
“Any attempt to interfere in or obstruct these relations is doomed to fail,” the statement said.
The comments follow a Reuters report quoting Ambassador Christensen, who said the Trump administration hopes to see “a good relationship between Bangladesh and India to support stability in the region” and reiterated U.S. concerns over China’s influence in South Asia.
“The United States is concerned about growing Chinese influence in South Asia and is committed to working closely with the Bangladeshi government to clearly communicate the risks of certain types of engagement with China,” the ambassador said in an interview on Tuesday.
“The US offers a range of options to help Bangladesh meet its military capability needs, including US systems and those from allied partners, to provide alternatives to Chinese systems,” he said without offering further details, Reuters reported.