New Delhi: China has offered to assist Bangladesh in tackling misinformation about the country’s political landscape, proposing a collaboration, in a soft strategic maneuver to counter India’s influence in the region.
On 21 May, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen sent a formal letter to Information Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam, expressing Beijing’s interest in sharing the strategies it uses to fight global misinformation.
The letter proposed a joint effort to address disinformation surrounding Bangladesh’s political situation, particularly following the mass uprising in July last year, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, according to Bangladeshi news outlet The Business Standard.
The proposal led to a focus group discussion on 28 May, chaired by Additional Secretary Md Kawsar Ahmad, where ministry officials discussed possible cooperation with China in combating false narratives. According to internal reports, the Chinese embassy has already designated a focal person to coordinate these joint efforts, and Bangladesh’s information ministry has been asked to appoint a counterpart to facilitate the organisation of a proposed seminar.
The seminar would serve as a platform for officials from both countries to exchange ideas and strategies on tackling disinformation more effectively. A ministry official stated that the Chinese embassy, in its communication, acknowledged the spread of false information in global media and online platforms regarding Bangladesh’s political climate, and emphasised that China, too, faced similar challenges, the report stated.
Beijing’s offer comes amid ongoing claims by the Bangladeshi interim government that media outlets—particularly in India—as well as social media platforms and expatriate-run YouTube channels, are spreading anti-government propaganda. Several of these reports have been officially denied by Dhaka.
By engaging with Bangladesh through soft power tactics such as media collaboration, China is likely aiming to expand its influence in South Asia and counter India’s dominant position in the region, according to some analysts.
China’s strategic interests in Bangladesh are well-documented. As a key South Asian country, Bangladesh is seen by Beijing as a valuable partner in its efforts to maintain regional balance. Rather than resorting to overt military or political actions, China is increasingly relying on diplomatic and informational tools to secure its interests.
Bangladesh-China relations
The interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus has intensified efforts to strengthen ties with China, signaling a strategic pivot that could further strain relations with neighboring India.
Last month, Yunus launched Dhaka’s own version of ‘mango diplomacy’ by gifting premium Bangladeshi mangoes to Chinese officials, while also reaffirming mutual interest in developing a 50-year master plan for water management cooperation.
Tensions with India escalated further following Yunus’s remarks during a meeting with Chinese officials in April, where he claimed Bangladesh, and not India, was the sole gateway to South Asia.
During an earlier state visit to Beijing in April, Yunus oversaw the signing of nine bilateral agreements covering economic and technical cooperation, infrastructure development, media, cultural exchange, and healthcare. Among the key outcomes was the decision to begin negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to optimise an existing investment treaty to boost trade and economic collaboration.
Yunus also pushed for Chinese participation in the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project—an initiative that had previously been pursued with Indian support during the erstwhile Hasina administration.
China, in turn, pledged significant financial support of approximately $400 million for upgrading the Mongla seaport in southwestern Bangladesh, $350 million for the expansion of the China Economic and Industrial Zone in Chattogram, and an additional $150 million in technical assistance.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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