Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with Chief Adviser of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus.
Credit: PTI Photo
Guwahati: The growing bonhomie between Bangladesh and China seems to have become a concern for many in the Northeast with several leaders reacting sharply to Bangladesh interim chief Mohammad Yunus' statement describing the region as "landlocked" while inviting China to enhance business ties.
During his visit to China, Yunus on Sunday projected Bangladesh as the "guardian of the ocean" while describing the seven states of the Northeast as a "landlocked" region. "So this opens up a huge possibility. So this could be an extension of the Chinese economy. Build things, produce things, market things, bring things to China, bring it out to the whole rest of the world," Yunus said.
Calling Yunus' remark as offensive and condemnable, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said it underscored the "persistent vulnerability narrative" associated with India’s strategic 'Chicken’s Neck', a narrow corridor in Siliguri in Bengal that connects the region with rest of India.
"Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested severing this critical passageway to isolate the Northeast from the mainland physically. Therefore, it is imperative to develop more robust railway and road networks both underneath and around the Chicken’s Neck corridor."
The 'Chicken's Neck' or the Siliguri corridor in North Bengal connects the Northeast with the rest of India.
Sarma also urged the Centre to explore an alternative route via Bhutan connecting the Northeast to mainland India, effectively bypassing the 'Chicken’s Neck'. "Such provocative statements by Md Yunus must not be taken lightly, as they reflect deeper strategic considerations and longstanding agendas," Sarma posted on X.
Former Manipur CM N. Biren Singh and Pradyot Deb Barma, a leader of Tipra Motha, a regional ally of BJP in Tripura, also condemned Yunus' remarks calling it provocative.
Singh, who resigned as CM in February, said Yunus was attempting to frame the Northeast as "a strategic pawn to serve their geopolitical ambitions." Deb Barma urged the Centre to change its diplomatic strategy saying "Bangladesh will never change."
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said Yunus' statement undermines India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"It is unfortunate that India’s foreign policy has weakened to the point where even a nation whose independence India actively supported is now leaning toward strategic opposition," said Gogoi, an MP from Assam and the deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha.
Chinese hegemony
Observers believe that the worry of the leaders stemmed from the possibility of increase in Chinese hegemony over the Northeast in case of further expansion of Chinese ties in Bangladesh.
"That the Northeast is landlocked is not in doubt. But Yunus' vision of making the region an extension of the Chinese economy is dangerous. China is certainly not friendly towards India and its plan to build dams across the border could be a recipe for disaster for the Northeast. So, a greater role and presence of China in Bangladesh will not be favourable to India," Rajeev Bhattacharyya, a writer and journlaist based in Guwahati, told DH.
Leaders in the Northeast had reacted sharply after China claimed Arunachal Pradesh as its own several times in the past. India, however, countered strongly making it clear that Arunachal Pradesh, which shares a border with China, and rest of the Northeast, is integral part of the nation.