India watches BD’s J-10CE fighter jet buy

India has said it is closely monitoring reports that Bangladesh is discussing the purchase of Chinese-made J-10CE multirole fighter aircraft, signalling that the development could influence New Delhi’s future approach towards its eastern neighbour.

Speaking at a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was keeping a close watch on developments in neighbouring countries, including reports concerning Bangladesh’s potential acquisition of advanced Chinese combat aircraft.

“We closely follow all such developments in our neighbourhood and take appropriate measures as required,” Jaiswal said when asked about reports that Dhaka is in talks with Beijing to procure J-10CE fighter jets.

The J-10CE is an export version of China’s advanced multirole fighter aircraft and is regarded as one of the country’s most capable combat platforms available to foreign buyers. Reports of Bangladesh’s interest in the aircraft have attracted attention in the region amid growing defence cooperation between Dhaka and Beijing.

Jaiswal’s remarks came as questions were raised about several developments linked to Bangladesh’s recent engagement with China, including discussions on defence cooperation, Beijing’s proposal for a China-Myanmar-Bangladesh economic corridor, and reported Chinese support for the Teesta River development project.

While declining to comment specifically on Bangladesh’s defence procurement plans, the Indian spokesperson indicated that New Delhi would take all relevant developments into account when shaping its policy towards Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen on Thursday in a press conference in Dhaka declined to discuss specific procurement matters of the sale of J-010CE fighter aircraft to Bangladesh.

“Our cooperation is very comprehensive. Defence cooperation is also part of it. But I am not in a position to pinpoint any particular purchase project,” he said.

“With our relations updated to a community of shared future, we see more cooperation in all areas, including defence cooperation,” the envoy said.

Meanwhile, referring to the Teesta project, Randhir Jaiswal said India had already communicated its position to Bangladesh and noted that New Delhi’s development cooperation with Dhaka was guided by a mutually agreed roadmap that is reviewed regularly.

“Our developmental assistance for projects in Bangladesh is based on a mutually agreed roadmap which is regularly reviewed,” Jaiswal said.

He added that India would “factor in all the related developments in our overall approach to Bangladesh,” underscoring New Delhi’s interest in strategic and security-related developments in the region.

Meanwhile, addressing questions on the long-delayed Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, Yao said the initiative remained one of the most important areas of bilateral cooperation.

“Definitely this project is the highlight of the bilateral cooperation and I know the Bangladeshi people have very high expectations for the progress of this project,” he said.

“As I said, this project is truly a livelihood project concerning more than 10 million people living around the river. It is a request of the Bangladesh government. China prepares to offer whatever China can do to help build this project.”

The envoy stressed that a scientific feasibility study would be the immediate priority.
“The most important thing is we need a very sound scientific feasibility study.

Whatever we do, we are based on feasibility studies. China is committed to work with Bangladesh and send our top experts to Bangladesh so we could work on a feasibility study.

You will see some progress very soon regarding this matter,” he said.