China lauds Dhaka’s foreign policy; hints Rohingya solution

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen speaking at the annual spring dialogue with journalists at the embassy on Tuesday 14 March 2023.

Dhaka, Mar 14 - Appreciating Bangladesh's foreign policy, China hopes that Bangladesh will not take any side but will remain independent regarding any regional or global issues.

“Bangladesh has a very good foreign policy: friendship to all and malice to none. This means Bangladesh will take no side, but remain independent. We support this,” said Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the annual Spring Dialogue with journalists at the embassy on Tuesday.

He said Indo Pacific Strategy, AUKUS, a security pact among Australia, UK and US; and Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US; and QUAD, a security dialogue among US, Australia, Japan and India -- have very strong defence elements.

“It is an era of development and peace. Why do you need nuclear submarines? We know who is the target,” Yao said.

If these initiatives create confrontation, China will not support them, he said.

Regarding the Rohingya crisis, the envoy said his country began a trilateral initiative, but the coronavirus pandemic and conflicts in Myanmar since 2021 slowed down the process.

The lack of “trust between Bangladesh and Myanmar and foreign interventions” further complicated the crisis, he said without going into details.

He expects the repatriation of the first batch of Rohingyas to take place soon, he said.

Officials earlier said 1,000 Rohingyas may get repatriated before June.

The western countries are spending billions of dollars on military equipment for Ukraine, but they are not sending enough aid for the Rohingyas, he said.

“It is my promise. China will never be absent from helping the Rohingya. China will play the role of a mediator and facilitator, but we will not take sides,” he said. - UNB