Dragon's New Move / China engaged in 'psychological war' against India, missiles maintenance center in Bangladesh

By making Bangladesh a pawn, China is now engaged in creating psychological pressure against India. It is engaged in setting up a maintenance center for surface-to-air missiles in Bangladesh. These will facilitate the maintenance of the missiles that China gave to Bangladesh in 2011. The matter of making this maintenance center has been kept confidential. No announcement has been made from China or Bangladesh in this regard.

However, a report has claimed that the work of setting up the center is progressing. It is said that a senior Bangladeshi diplomat has confirmed this in a conversation with him.

Security balance likely to deteriorate in Asia

The diplomat said on the condition of anonymity that, "China and Bangladesh are keeping this matter a secret because Western countries - especially the US - have increased surveillance of China." This maintenance center is likely to disturb the security balance in Asia.

Maintenance center is part of military investment in Bangladesh

According to the website Nikkei Asia, this center is being set up in collaboration with Chinese company Vanguard. It is part of China's military investment in Bangladesh. Under this cooperation, China is going to provide fighter ships, naval guns, anti-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is the second largest customer after Pakistan

Bangladesh has already become a major market for defense exports for China. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, a Swedish organization, Bangladesh bought 17 percent of the military exports China made from 2016 to 2020. In this way, it has become the second largest defense customer of China after Pakistan. The Defense Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh and China was signed in 2002. It also included talk of cooperation in defense production. Since then, defense cooperation between the two countries has increased. During the last few years, soldiers of Bangladesh have also gone to China for training.

According to the information revealed about the defense deals between the two countries, in 2016 China gave two submarines to Bangladesh. The deal was done for over $200 million. Diplomatic experts have said that the speed with which Bangladesh is increasing defense cooperation with China may raise new concerns in South Asia. Especially this is a matter of concern for India.

A psychological pressure on India

Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor of Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, said, "Setting up a missile facility in Bangladesh and establishing other types of military ties with it is nothing but a psychological war of China against India." China wants to send a message to India that Bangladesh is now in its court. However, Kondapalli said that the friendship between China and Bangladesh will not pose any serious threat to India. He also said that it is not possible for India to interfere in the decision of a sovereign country.