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Young, old divide sharpens in BNP on China policy

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
No top policymaker wants to put bilateral relations with China at stake, but some ministers with business ties at the same time are unwilling to miss out on the trade opportunities with Taiwan despite the fear of Chinese retaliation.
A row between the old guards and new blood in the ruling BNP surfaced over the opening of a Taiwanese trade representative office in Dhaka recently that drew angry reaction from China, which is very sensitive about 'one-China policy'.
BNP's young Turks feel that trade venture with Taiwan should not be linked to foreign policy. The old leadership, at odds with the new-generation leaders ever since
the ruling alliance took office in 2001, feels Bangladesh in no way can afford to upset China, however lucrative may trade with Taiwan be.
Dhaka has launched frantic diplomatic efforts to reassure Beijing, which has asked the government to shut down the office immediately as a proof of Bangladesh's 'claimed' stance of 'one-China policy'.
Talking to The Daily Star, several top BNP leaders alleged that a few cabinet ministers and some state ministers are only taking care of their own business interest, pushing the country towards an undesirable confrontation with China.
They said China emerged as the
most trusted friend of the BNP and Bangladesh, as well, and that it would not be wise to put the relations on the rocks just to advance business aspirations of a few individuals.
"Let's not forget that China has always been there with assistance in Bangladesh's development endeavours and defence," said a top BNP leader, preferring anonymity.
"The damage will be beyond comprehension if China turns its back on us," he said. "We will be friendless as we do not have strong ties with neighbouring India."
A cabinet minister and several state ministers with business links,
on the other hand, dismissed the fear of the veterans, saying Taiwan was allowed to open a trade office only for trade purposes.
Beijing also allowed the Taiwanese private sector to invest in China, they said, claiming that Taiwan invested around $10 billion there.
Currently, Taiwan has about 119 such trade and cultural offices across the globe, including in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. These countries also believe in 'one-China policy' and do business with Taiwan at the same time, they pointed out.
Asked about China's sharp reaction, a state minister, opting anonymity, said, "We do not differ with the 'one-China policy'…But we are also in favour of business with Taiwan."
Taiwan has an embargo on hiring manpower from countries that do not allow it to run trade office there, he said. "The embargo would go if Bangladesh does not shut down the trade office. And we would be able to export 20,000 to 50,000 people a year."
Another state minister said Taiwan is ready to invest heavily in Bangladesh and has agreed to sell goods at much competitive prices than China.
As a developing nation, Bangladesh must get its priorities right and business should top its agenda, he said.
"In today's world, the terms of bilateral ties, friendship and so on are measured by business. When every nation is gunning for business, why should we sit back and let others seize the opportunities?"
He also wondered why China did not react similarly to other countries that have trade ties with Taiwan. "China is threatening us because Bangladesh is small and economically weak."