ABSTRACT
The chapter investigates new dynamics and challenges of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and China in the changing regional and global contexts. The magnitude of the Bangladesh–China relationship assumes a phenomenal shape in the post-Cold War era. The elevation of China as the largest trade partner of Bangladesh is a concrete manifestation of expanding bilateral relations between the two Asian countries. Both the countries are the members of Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar-Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) initiative, which emphasises connectivity from Kunming to Kolkata popularly termed as K2K. China has increased its presence in infrastructure-building efforts of Bangladesh through financing mega projects and providing knowledge and technical support. Bangladesh has procured submarines from China to strengthen its capacity to address non-traditional security threats in its sovereign waters, following the solution of maritime disputes with Myanmar and India. Several rounds of high-level visits by the heads of governments of the two nations have cemented regime-level understanding for mutual cooperation and collaboration. China widely recognises that Bangladesh holds a crucial geostrategic position in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Both the countries visibly demonstrate that there is a great potential to strengthen economic and trade cooperation. The chapter argues that Bangladesh and China face new dilemmas and choices emanating from intersecting geopolitical and geoeconomics interests in managing their bilateral relations. In setting out the central argument of the paper, Bangladesh–China relations will be critically examined to explore contours and directions in the changing domains of regional and global politics.
