Dhaka takes note of Beijing's absence over Myanmar border tensions discussion

[nahtanbob]

The concern here is greater than just an isolated incident of shelling. China continues to avoid contributing meaningfully to the process of repatriating Rohingyas to their own land.
The series of events since 2017 has clearly demonstrated that China is unwilling to assist BD against Burmese misdeeds.
It is Bangladesh's fault for relying heavily on China. Time for course correction.
China is a friend of BD but not a military ally.

China policy towards Myanmar is consistent over decades. Guys like @Bilal9 are the ones who are polyannish on China

It is not that China does not WANT to resolve the Rohingya problem. In fact the Chinese Foreign Ministry participated in very early efforts to resolve it in 2017 with FM Wang Yi stepping in.

Vetoes at the UN Security Council by China indicates otherwise

 

[Bilal9]

We might cheer Chinas anti india activity but China isn't a friend of ours and never will be. We have very different way to see this world...

We can join anti china camp without thinking twice. For us China is just a business partner. We don't have anything among us to bond...

Joining pro-China or anti-China camps is rather passe, if I may say so.

China has far larger weight in international matters and they are a juggernaut economically. We are neither.

Remaining either politically friendly or at least not a political enemy, helps Bangladesh, which is a developing economy.

It would be foolish to take any sides on this - it is not an emotional decision. We should not have a dog in this fight, like India does. Opposing China will hurt Bangladesh - we have zero leverage. The US, Australia, India will not come set up factories in Bangladesh. They don't care. The scale of Japanese and Chinese investments locally are also different.

Having economic relationship with China is a MUST. We should not cloud that relationship with political tinge.

Our relationship should be even better than Vietnam's relationship with China, with more trust and respect.

Please think about it - based on what we want Bangladesh to become, not what it is today.

 

[Abu Shaleh Rumi]

It is not that China does not WANT to resolve the Rohingya problem. In fact the Chinese Foreign Ministry participated in very early efforts to resolve it in 2017 with FM Wang Yi stepping in.

China proposed three-phase plan for Rohingya issue

China has proposed a three-phase plan for resolving the Rohingya crisis, starting with a ceasefire, that has won the support of Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Foreign Ministry said.

www.reuters.com

It is clear that this is a deliberate problem created in order to cleanse an ethnic group from a certain area.

Myanmar soldiers confess to Rohingya massacre: 'Shoot all that you see'

The testimony marks the first time members of Myanmar’s military have admitted to what the U.N. and international prosecutors call a genocidal campaign against the Rohingya.

www.nbcnews.com

However the problem can also be attributed to the immaturity on the Bangladesh FM side. Bangladesh is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

1. On the one hand - repatriation of the Rohingya back to Myanmar seems farther and farther away as conscientious voices in the West die down farther, weighed down by the ongoing skirmishes and economic concerns at home (EU and US).
2. On the other hand, the Arakan Army is taking advantage of the weakness of the Junta in Naypyidaw and trying to liberate Arakan using force, if they are finally able to do this, they agreed to repatriate the Rohingya back to Arakan.
3. China does not want to take sides in this internal skirmish in Myanmar for its own interests. Neither does Bangladesh, for stability and economic reasons.
4. Everyone (including UN) is happy just feeding this large group of people at the time. And ignoring the damage that these refugees are causing in Bangladesh, for now. These people (at least partly) are becoming a security and law/order problem locally.

So - it is just not China that does not want to solve the problem. It is also the West.

If the West wanted to sanction the Tatmadaw more severely - they could. But they are too busy with far bigger problems of their own.

So what is the solution?

1. Solve it by economic pressure. All foreign investments by Japan, Korea, S'pore and ASEAN countries could be withdrawn from Myanmar and that would be the leverage needed economically to force the hand of the Tatmadaw. But Bangladesh does not have that leverage other than appealing to the ASEAN countries and Japan/Korea to pressure the Tatmadaw economically. It has done very little so far on this front.
2. Solve it by pressure from groupings like OIC that Bangladesh is a member for. Which is already ongoing. This momentum should be maintained.

https://www.oic-oci.org/docdown/?docID=4518&refID=1255

This is where future effort is going from Bangladesh and where it SHOULD go.

Bhai, there is only one solution for Rohingya issue, forcefully occupying burmese land to settle entire Rohingya population.

And if we want to solve Rohingya issue, "we" have to do it. Nobody is coming to do it for us. But unfortunately we don't have political and military capacity to do so. So, we have to host and spend money on Rohingyas for foreseeable future.

Crying in every international event will accomplish nothing...

 

[VikingRaider]

সারাজীবন নোট নিতে আর নিন্দা জানাতে থাকেন। অথর্বদের কাছ থেকে এর বেশি কিছু আর আশা করি না!

 

[nahtanbob]

Having economic relationship with China is a MUST. We should not cloud that relationship with political tinge.

How much does China purchase from Bangladesh ? Compare to exports to USA and West

 

[Avicenna]

Guys the solution in regards to Myanmar is easy.

Buy Western arms and get proper training.

Problem solved.

Myanmar will continue to be a problem so long as BD neglects its military capability.

So bring on the F-16Vs as long as we get AMRAAMS.

Longer term, I hope BD/BAF and Turkey and perhaps maybe South Korea work closer together.

ex. https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/turkish-air-force-unmatched-new-war-concept-in-2025.749254/

Much can be learned from our Turkish friends.

 

[bluesky]

We were also shelled by Burma.

The question is not about border shelling when pursuing the rebels. It is the attitude of China towards MM and then to BD. China did not attend the meeting in BD to discuss the MM shelling on its territory.

Sittwe Port is the Chinese target that will not materialize any time soon. China is pursuing this policy of entering BoB through Sittwe for many decades already.

But, MM is apt at showing carrots to China but will not hand over Sittwe.

How much does China purchase from Bangladesh ? Compare to exports to USA and West

A day is coming when the Chinese currency goes up in value and many Chinese factories move to BD and export back to China.

So, please wait for a few more years.

 

[tphuang]

I don't really get the point here. If you want China's protection, you can go to China and offer something to China in exchange for that. China does not want to just get involved in other country's affairs. China will be able to sell you weapons for much better deals than other countries.

Myanmar is a general messy situation, China generally doesn't want to get too deep into their problems

How much does China purchase from Bangladesh ? Compare to exports to USA and West

hmm, that's because China makes everything. If you don't buy it from China, where will you buy stuff from?

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, all the mountains prevent rail line between the two countries. As such, it's exports are just not as competitive as countries with direct rail to China.

 

[Wergeland]

This is further confirmation that China would be of no help in a conflict with Burma. In fact, China's "non-interference" charade might extend to not helping Bangladesh against India.
What Bangladesh needs is to kick off extensive military collaboration with West-friendly nation such as Turkey, South Korea, Indonesia, etc. to build up a strong local domestic military industry. In the short term, we have no choice but to buy/lease Western hardware despite strings as anything is much better than the current state of neutered military readiness.
Go for F-16s for MMRCAs if the US blocks Gripens. Other F-16 operators with advanced aerospace industries like Turkey, Indonesia, etc. might be able to help us keep the fleet operational in the long term if/when there are delays in US supply of spares and maintenance support. Bangladesh will never take an outright anti-US stance anyway so outright sancations at any point are unlikely.
A pro-West stance will take Bangladesh closer to the developed + advanced developing world in general - no country in this category is anti-West except for China and Russia.
For instance, South Korea and Indonesia might be happy to welcome BD into the KF-21 and K-FX programs.

I agree with you.

A major hurdle is the western preference for India.

Led by the US, no western nation would deliever weapons that could comprise India. All the bhartis have to, is start crying and youll see Uncle Sam only allowing deliverance of downgraded weapon systems, for a steep price.

This is exactly the reason why the US refuse to sell advanced weapon to Pakistan the past decade.

Its a tough nut to crack for BD, as neither any nation from the western camp or the chinese, want to fully commit. Major hope is countries like Turkey, who hopefully will have good indiginous systems avalible to countries like BD. Turkey is being bullied into give up its domestic weapon programs precisely because of this.

 

[UKBengali]

Reading far too much into this.

BD can only solve the Rohingya issue by arming itself with Western/Turkish arms and showing ability and intent.

Of course China is the only reliable supplier against India for BD and that must be the supplier of choice for BD in that regard. If BAF/BD government ever gets it's head screwed on properly then they should be looking at procuring the J-35 fighter that would give a qualitative advantage against anything IAF has.

No point blaming China as BD needs to act like a grown-up and impose it's will against a poorer and smaller country than it like every other normal country would do.

 

[Bilal9]

It's not China's responsibility to mediate and intervene in your border problems. The only country that has military protection provided by China written into a treaty is North Korea.

Solve your own beef with Myanmar.

Point well taken but I would not call this Bangladesh' military "beef" with Myanmar. And this is not a "border" problem. There is no border dispute, only a refugee displacement issue. It is an International problem of ethnic cleansing.

These Rohingyas are not ethnically similar to us Bengalis. They are Myanmar citizens.

The Tatmadaw is saying that they are Bengalis and illegal immigrants, so they can do ethnic cleansing, which is illegal itself by all UN international treaties and conventions. Ethnic cleansing is still ongoing in Myanmar, even today. This has been proven many times by the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

The Rohingyas have no place to go except Bangladesh. You cannot do this to a million people just because you want to. And you cannot get away with it. The results will be something no one likes. A war is being imposed on us which we may pursue.

Now if the Tatmadaw does illegal things, then their leaders deserve international punishment, which they have not so far.

But they will. I don't think Bangladesh will stop the repatriation process or pursuing punishment for the Tatmadaw leaders. Militarily if need be. Our patience is wearing thin with the Tatmadaw savages.

At some point this may however - become a military rather than diplomatic problem as has happened now. Arakan Army has gotten involved and so will ARSA.

At that point, we hope China will not pick a side and see things practically.

 

[Maula Jatt]

It's not China's responsibility to mediate and intervene in your border problems. The only country that has military protection provided by China written into a treaty is North Korea.

Solve your own beef with Myanmar.

Nope they want you to stay out of it if they go and bombard Burma, make an exclusive zone for rohingyas to settle in

They're doing a hold me back and save your boy move

Simplest solution is for BD to seek friendly relations with MM, and seek a repatriation of Rohingyas to Pakistan. The Fortress of Islam role is best left to Pakistan.

Regards

I am pretty sure if we do a census atleast (and that's on the lower side estimate imo) 70-80 million pakistanis can't trace their grandfather birthplace back to modern day pakistan

Our country is dumping ground ever since 1947 not that afghans and other Central Asian people didn't come before that but after 47 mofos from east and west are just coming, coming and coming

But Bangladesh's hasina was still crying about Biharis some other day afa I remember lol

 

[Bilal9]

Nope they want you to stay out of it if they go and bombard Burma, make an exclusive zone for rohingyas to settle in


I am pretty sure if we do a census atleast 70-80 million pakistanis can't trace their grandfather birthplace back to modern day pakistan

Our country is dumping ground ever since 1947 not that afghans and other Central Asian people didn't come before that but after 47 mofos from east and west are just coming, coming and coming

And Bangladeshi still crying about Biharis lol

Good point on the Arakan liberation idea.

Rohingyas cannot get out of Bangladesh unless they cross the border illegally to India, which is well near impossible nowadays.

They can't even get passports in Bangladesh, their fingerprints are checked in a database. Some get caught everyday, trying to do this.

Bhartis and their loony ideas...

 

[MH.Yang]

China has not failed to pay attention to the Rohingya issue, there are also tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in China. In fact, China is the only country other than Bangladesh that is truly willing to solve the Rohingya problem.

It is foolish to expect the West to solve the Rohingya problem. Western countries do not really want to solve the Rohingya problem, they just want to detonate the Rohingya problem and completely destroy the order in this region. This result will not only bring chaos to the southwest border of China, but also completely destroy the economic development of Bangladesh and the northeastern Indian states.

If Bangladesh really wants to solve the Rohingya problem without seriously harming its own interests, it should cooperate according to the solution route designed by China. Only a peaceful settlement of this issue can prevent Myanmar from destroying the stability and economic development of the entire region, as Afghanistan did.

I think Bangladeshi people should think about several issues calmly:
Who is the biggest threat to Bangladesh's sovereignty, Myanmar? Is it China?
Has China's interests been affected by the Rohingya issue? Is China willing to solve the Rohingya problem?
Who really wants the economic development of this region?
Who is really capable of solving the Rohingya problem without destabilizing the region?


@Destranator
@bluesky
@BananaRepublicUK
@Abu Shaleh Rumi
@Bilal9
@Avicenna
@UKBengali



BTW: In fact, China does not mind Bangladesh's military inclination towards the West and India, which is Bangladesh's internal affair. China just hopes to maintain stability in this region and link Southwest China with Bangladesh and Southeast Asian countries through the B&R plan.
If Bangladesh has a better solution to the Rohingya problem, China does not mind waiting for Bangladesh to solve this problem. But if there is chaos like Afghanistan in this region, China will cut off all ties with this region by blocking the autonomous regions in the north of Myanmar, just as we cut off all ties with Afghanistan by closing Wakhan Corridor in 2001. Until the chaos in this area subsides.

 

[Bilal9]

China has not failed to pay attention to the Rohingya issue, there are also tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in China. In fact, China is the only country other than Bangladesh that is truly willing to solve the Rohingya problem.

It is foolish to expect the West to solve the Rohingya problem. Western countries do not really want to solve the Rohingya problem, they just want to detonate the Rohingya problem and completely destroy the order in this region. This result will not only bring chaos to the southwest border of China, but also completely destroy the economic development of Bangladesh and the northeastern Indian states.

If Bangladesh really wants to solve the Rohingya problem without seriously harming its own interests, it should cooperate according to the solution route designed by China. Only a peaceful settlement of this issue can prevent Myanmar from destroying the stability and economic development of the entire region, as Afghanistan did.

I think Bangladeshi people should think about several issues calmly:
Who is the biggest threat to Bangladesh's sovereignty, Myanmar? Is it China?
Has China's interests been affected by the Rohingya issue? Is China willing to solve the Rohingya problem?
Who really wants the economic development of this region?
Who is really capable of solving the Rohingya problem without destabilizing the region?


@Destranator
@bluesky
@BananaRepublicUK
@Abu Shaleh Rumi
@Bilal9
@Avicenna
@UKBengali



BTW: In fact, China does not mind Bangladesh's military inclination towards the West and India, which is Bangladesh's internal affair. China just hopes to maintain stability in this region and link Southwest China with Bangladesh and Southeast Asian countries through the B&R plan.
If Bangladesh has a better solution to the Rohingya problem, China does not mind waiting for Bangladesh to solve this problem. But if there is chaos like Afghanistan in this region, China will cut off all ties with this region by blocking the autonomous regions in the north of Myanmar, just as we cut off all ties with Afghanistan by closing Wakhan Corridor in 2001. Until the chaos in this area subsides.

I don't think Bangladesh will make sudden moves unless compelled to do so.

Above all Bangladesh govt. will not risk economic stability to deal with the Tatmadaw militarily. But if they force our hand, then all bets are off.

Lately the Tatmadaw has been trying to provocate us a lot by conducting military operations close to the border. It is clear they have hit rock bottom economically and have little to lose by starting a conflict with Bangladesh. Our armed forces are watching closely and have been on war footing.