"Unchecked Chinese influence may put Indo-Pacific sovereignty at danger"

The US ambassador to Bangladesh said unchecked Chinese influence might put the Indo-Pacific region‍‍`s sovereignty and strategic independence at jeopardy.

Peter Haas made this statement during a session on the final day of the three-day Bay of Bengal Conversations, organized by the Center for Governance Studies (CGS) at a Dhaka hotel adding that, "This could therefore lead to unrest and prevent the prosperity that we all desire."

The US ambassador was speaking at a plenary session on “Defining Competition in the Indo-Pacific”, moderated by Zillur Rahman, executive director of CGS and chairman of Bay of Bengal Conversation.

By championing democracy, human rights, and open dialogue, Haas said, the US is paving the way for a region that not only endures but thrives.

“Through the recognition of our sovereign foreign policy prerogatives, we forge partnerships that are based on mutual respect, shared aspirations, and, especially in the case of our friends on this panel, partnerships and alliances that transcend borders and stand as a testament to our collective commitment to a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” said the US ambassador.

Quoting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Ambassador Haas said, “The Indo-Pacific region must be an area of peace and prosperity for all. Our vision for the region is to have a free, open, peaceful, secure, and inclusive region.”

Jeremy Bruer, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Lilly Nicholls, Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; and Sarah Cooke, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, also spoke at the event.