Problems and Prospects of Sino-Bangladesh Bilateral Relations: An Analysis

Abstract

This research aims to study the existing Sino-Bangladesh bilateral relation framing about 10 years (2012 to 2022) to shape a vibrant bilateral relation. The results of a study undertaken to identify the problems and simultaneously the prospective measures to be made both from two countries: Bangladesh and China. The theoretical framework has been borrowed from Hans J. Morgenthau‟s realist theory, Antonio Gramsci‟s ideological hegemony and Alfred Mahan‟s sea power theory to examine Sino-Bangladesh relations on the ground of international politics. Being a strategically important country in South Asia can shape the existing foreign policy dynamics to upgrade its status in attaining a developed one. The study will highlight on the ongoing problems of convergence and discord issues holistically like the Rohingya Issue, Bangladesh-India Relation, and useful mechanisms for the political and economic development respectively. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of research have been used to seek depth of the study. For this purpose, the researcher has to be very careful about sampling. The analysis was done for the overall success rate of the current trade, defense, economic, political, and strategic frameworks. Bangladesh has, however, come to light as a significant moot point from the perspective of regional security as we explore the new dimension of bilateral relations. The recent global and regional politics tends to raise a vital question if Bangladesh can maintain balance between India-Bangladesh-China trilateral power configuration. Both the qualitative and quantitative study show that Bangladesh needs to maintain a balanced but win-win policy. The Covid-19 pandemic largely influenced global politics and remade the regional order, henceforth, the Ukraine war presented a new global equation. Though Sino-Bangladesh shared an antagonistic relationship from the beginning the journey of Bangladesh but, there are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends, only permanent interests are given priority in international politics. Considering the geographic location, Bangladesh should maintain a balanced mechanism according to the research work. Bangladesh is moving towards a developed one and there are major hurdles which is the major concern of this study and only the strategic mechanism itself can resolve the issues to maintain a healthy Sino-Bangladesh bilateral relations.