China preemptively remarks on Quad: Momen

Bangladesh will take its decision as a sovereign nation on whether it will join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

Chinese ambassador Li Jiming preemptively made a comment about Dhaka’s affiliation to Quad, Momen furthered.

Momen came up with the remarks while talking to the newsmen at state guest house Padma in the capital on Tuesday (May 11).

During an iftar programme organised by The Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Bangladesh (DCAB) on Monday (May 10) the Chinese envoy to Dhaka said, Dhaka-Beijing relation will worsen if Bangladesh joins the strategic alliance of the US, Japan, Australia and India.

In reaction to the Chinese ambassador’s remark the minister said, “No decision on Quad is taken yet. Besides, Bangladesh will take its decision as a sovereign country”.

The nation’s interests will come foremost in joining any alliance, he said.  

During the virtual session of Decab the Li Jing said, “Beijing considers Quad as an anti-China nexus. I want to clarify that, the claim of Quad to forge an economic alliance is not true. This is merely a military coalition and forged with anti-China sentiment”.

 “Bangladesh should not join Quad, a US-led initiative, and Bangladesh’s relations with China will ‘substantially get damaged’ if it joins it,” he said.

On April 27, Chinese State Councillor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe met President Abdul Hamid and the two sides agreed to advance bilateral military cooperation.

To jointly maintain regional peace and stability, the two sides should make joint efforts against powers outside the region, setting up a military alliance in South Asia and practising hegemonism, Wei was quoted by Xinhua.