Deepening Bangladesh–China Military Relations: Rhetoric and Reality

South Asia has undergone significant changes in the last decade. Most significantly, the region has experienced the resolution of the Cold War and the rapid rise of China both economically and militarily. China’s military relations with South Asian countries are seen as a part of its surroundings, and it’s pursuing a much more regional-centric policy. What are the rhetoric and reality of the China-Bangladesh military relationship? Does Chinese military cooperation and strategic engagement with Bangladesh threaten Bangladesh’s long-term strategic balance with great powers, particularly India and the U.S., or positively impact the country’s geostrategic position in South Asia? Bangladesh has a substantial dependence on Chinese military equipment and technology, which contributed to Beijing’s strategic influence in the country. Bangladesh has pressure from New Delhi and the U.S. due to its extending strategic relations with Beijing. In geostrategic veracity, Bangladesh is likely to be sandwiched between China, the U.S., and India. Improvement of the technologically savvy military can be the existential option for Bangladesh, where the country can diversify the source of its military importation and reduce military hardware dependence on China. The present chapter will contribute to the literature on Chinese hard power engagement and strategic presence in South Asia.