This is the 2nd trilateral dialogue that China has launched in India’s neighbourhood, following a similar meeting between the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan, recently.
- This shows rising influence of China in South Asia. China is cultivating a ring of friendly states along the subcontinent’s periphery.
Key Concerns for India
- Expansion of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Projects: Both Bangladesh and Pakistan are key partners of BRI.
- Under BRI, the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been launched, running through Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir.
- Expansion of String of Pearls Policy: This policy aims to encircle India with Chinese outposts to maintain its dominance on its neighbor.
- China has secured access to key ports along the Indian Ocean, including Gwadar in Pakistan and Hambantota port in Sri Lanka.
- China may have access to ports in Bangladesh, national security threat forIndia.
- Parallel Regionalism: Emergence of alternate regional platforms may reduce relevance of India-led regional groupings like Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
- Erosion of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy: Trilateral initiative signals a growing vacuum in regional leadership that China is actively filling.
Way Forward
- Prioritize the friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its neighbours, Strengthen regional grouping like BIMSTEC, etc.