Countries considering treaties with China for mutual benefit are witnessing the weakening of their democracies and the increasing influence of military governance.
These treaties pose potential adverse effects on the United States. These nations risk becoming battlegrounds in the ongoing China-US conflict.
Take Bangladesh, for example. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during her recent visit to Beijing, signed 28 bilateral agreements and elevated the relationship between the countries to a “comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.”
Bangladesh joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2016, receiving substantial Chinese financial assistance for various infrastructure projects, including roads, railways, power grids, communication systems, seaports, and a surface water treatment plant.
This growing alliance with China is unacceptable to the United States.
Public outcry against Hasina arose due to her emphasis on meritocracy. Faced with immense pressure, she resigned, paving the way for increased military involvement in governance.
While this might appear as a victory for the Bangladeshi people, the long-term repercussions could be detrimental.
In Bangladesh, quotas were allocated as follows: 1% for the physically disabled, 5% for minorities, 10% for women, 10% for those from underprivileged areas, and 30% for individuals involved in the country’s freedom struggle, with the remaining 44% based on merit.
Hasina proposed amendments to set quotas for minorities and the physically disabled to 2%, reduce the quota for freedom fighters to 5%, and allocate 93% based on merit.
These changes sparked massive unrest among the youth, leading to her removal and plunging the country into political turmoil.
The resulting collapse of the democratic governance system and military takeover sends a clear signal to China, which has heavily invested in Bangladesh.
This scenario illustrates the complex dynamics and potential consequences of aligning with China, highlighting the broader geopolitical implications in the global arena.
