‘China’s foray into Myanmar, Bangladesh is not in India’s interest’, says Bipin Rawat

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said that China’s foray into Myanmar and Bangladesh does not suit the national interest of India, PTI reported.

Rawat added that the two neighbouring countries of India had received the largest military aid from China. He said that Beijing also made investments in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives “to gain strategic foothold” in South Asia.

“Of late, we are witnessing a geo-strategic competition and huge investment by China in the region [South Asia] to create a favourable posture to provide sufficient security to its interests,” Rawat said at an event in Guwahati, according to the news agency.

The chief of defence staff said that there was an “omnipresent danger” of strategic instability in South Asia that could threaten India’s “territorial integrity and strategic importance”.

Rawat added that India must engage more with its neighbouring countries to counter China’s influence, PTI reported.

“We have to tell our neighbours that we are here as permanent friends and engage with them on equal terms and we consider all neighbours as equal partners in development,” he added.

The defence chief also spoke about Pakistan starting a “proxy war” against India. “Whenever there is peace and tranquillity in Jammu and Kashmir, our western adversary creates a situation…

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