POBNEWS24, Dhaka Oct 10, 2023 : China’s unchecked influence may challenge the sovereignty and strategic autonomy of the Indo-Pacific region, said Peter Haas, US Ambassador to Dhaka.
“Due to this (China’s) influence, in addition to increasing instability in the region, the prosperity we want to achieve collectively can be hindered,” he said.
Peter Haas said this in a speech given at a working session of the ‘Bay of Bengal Conversation’ at a hotel in the capital on Monday.
He addressed the session on ‘Competitiveness in the Indo-Pacific Region’ at the three-day conference organized by research institute Center for Governance Studies (CGS).
US Ambassador Peter Haas said, ‘The United States believes in an international rule-based system based on free navigation and openness in the Indo-Pacific region. The US also believes in the Indo-Pacific strategy to promote democracy, human rights and prosperity in the region. As we move forward in the Indo-Pacific region, let’s not lose sight of China’s growing influence.’
The US ambassador said, ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its ambitions to expand sea lanes signal a new era in the region. It poses the biggest strategic challenge to our vision of an open Indo-Pacific region. Authoritarian powers are trying to change the basic rules of international affairs. At this juncture we must proceed with extra caution.’
Peter Haas said the world had woken up to Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression in Ukraine. He said, “The United States will play a role as a responsible leading state.” We don’t want conflict. We don’t want a cold war.’
“Talking about fair elections does not mean spreading dominance”
In the question and answer session, Peter Haas said that talking about global democracy, free and fair elections are not hegemony, it is the normal foreign policy of the United States.
The US ambassador said that the US believes in an international rule-based system based on freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region. The US Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) also believes in promoting democracy, human rights and prosperity in the region. Some think the US dominates democracy, free and fair elections. It is basically a fundamental right for human rights all over the world. It’s never bossy to say this, it’s important.
In response to a question about competition with China in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Peter Haas said, ‘The word competition basically goes against China. My entire speech did not mention conflict. The competition that I am talking about is basically about the way of thinking. It is not that force has to be used here; where every country talks about transparency, talks about democracy, talks about human rights, talks about private sector. The United States essentially competes in those ideological spaces where dictatorships operate.
Talking about Bangladesh here, it doesn’t matter who they will follow East or West. The issue is whether they believe in our idea or believe in dictatorship. But Bangladesh will decide what to do.
High Commissioner of UK Sarah Cook, High Commissioner of Canada Lily Nicholls and High Commissioner of Australia Jeremy Brewer also spoke at the working session moderated by CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman.
