Yunus’ Diplomatic Rhetoric During China Visit: Implications in International Relations

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ recent visit to China and public statements reflect Bangladesh's strategic positioning in global politics. His rhetoric, ranging from rejecting opportunities he deems “modern-day slavery” to asserting himself as the “guardian of the Indian Ocean”, signals a complex interplay of national sovereignty, economic strategy, and regional diplomacy.

Illustration by The Geostrata

His four‐day visit to China, attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. Yet, behind this apparent continuity of friendship between Bangladesh and  China lies a more assertive and controversial narrative. In recent speeches, Yunus has boldly declared Bangladesh as the “guardian of the ocean” for India’s landlocked northeastern “Seven Sisters.”

REJECTING MODERN DAY-SLAVERY, NATIONAL DIGNITY OR ECONOMIC STRATEGY

Yunus’s dismissal of what he calls a demeaning job opportunity while speaking at Peking University, China, serves as an assertion of national dignity and a discursive move that redefines Bangladesh’s role in the region. His rejection of employment, which is framed as exploitative, can be analysed through the postcolonial theory, which critiques global economic hierarchies that perpetuate dependency structures.

By refusing such opportunities, Yunus signals Bangladesh’s unwillingness to accept a subordinate role in the international labour market, emphasising self-reliance and national pride. Yunus’s dismissal of what he calls a demeaning job opportunity serves as an assertion of national dignity and a discursive move that redefines Bangladesh’s role in the region. This perspective aligns with Hamza Alavi’s concept of the “over-developed state,” which suggests that post-colonial states like Bangladesh have inherited an administrative structure designed to serve colonial interests rather than indigenous needs.

By rejecting certain economic opportunities as exploitative, Yunus implicitly challenges the historical subordination of Bangladesh’s labour force to external economic pressures.

The rhetoric of being the “guardian of the Indian Ocean” further reinforces this assertion of regional agency, reflecting an effort to reshape the country’s geopolitical identity beyond its historical constraints.

THE GUARDIAN OF THE INDIAN OCEAN, A REGIONAL LEADERSHIP NARRATIVE

Yunus’s self-description as the “guardian of the Indian Ocean” reflects a strategic assertion of regional influence. This rhetoric aligns with the English School of International Relations, which highlights the role of states in shaping regional orders. By positioning Bangladesh as a caretaker of the Indian Ocean, Yunus underscores his vision for regional leadership, challenging traditional hegemonic powers such as India while simultaneously seeking deeper engagement with China.

PRAGMATISM AMID PROVOCATION

Yunus’s actions in China can be measured and adhere to established diplomatic norms. Chinese officials emphasise that his visit continues the long‐standing friendship between the two nations and reflects an interim government policy of “balanced pragmatism and prioritising the economy.” Multiple Memorandums of Understanding, economic cooperation, technical assistance, and cultural exchanges were signed.

This dual approach exemplifies what can be described as the projection of power through symbolic and material channels. Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that the temporary government has clearly expressed its intention to maintain balanced relations with other countries.

REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND THEORETICAL INSIGHTS

Yunus’s claims carry significant implications for regional stability. His use of the “guardian” metaphor challenges India’s traditional influence over the Indian Ocean. It hints at broader strategic contexts and shifting alliances in the Indo-Pacific. While his rhetoric may provoke tensions in New Delhi, it also illustrates the interplay between discursive identity construction and pragmatic power projection.

For Bangladesh, this juxtaposition of provocative statements and traditional diplomacy is an effort to forge an independent identity. In essence, Muhammad Yunus is charting a path that fuses symbolic defiance with tangible progress, a recalibration to ensure that Bangladesh, despite external pressures, can dictate its future and contribute meaningfully to regional stability and cooperation.

INDIAN CONCERNS, A SHIFTING DIPLOMATIC LANDSCAPE

The Indian media’s reaction to Yunus’s China visit underscores a growing regional shift. In the wake of his provocative visit to China, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus declared Bangladesh the “guardian of the Indian Ocean.” The interim government has embarked on a recalibration of its regional alignments. At the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, in the first direct meeting since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina last August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yunus engaged in a focused 40‑minute discussion that brought several critical bilateral issues to the fore.

Addressing long-standing Indian concerns over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, PM Modi reiterated that such issues are best handled by the two countries’ foreign ministers. In response, Yunus maintained that reports of violence against minorities were “hugely inflated” and invited independent verification while also pressing for an update on Dhaka’s extradition request for Hasina.

On another front, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar sharply countered Yunus’s earlier “Northeast landlocked” remark—made during his China visit—by asserting that cooperation cannot be about cherry-picking issues. Jaishankar emphasised India’s long coastline along the Bay of Bengal, its extensive connectivity with BIMSTEC members, and the emerging role of its Northeast region as a connectivity hub.

In a further escalation, India terminated its cargo trans-shipment arrangement to Bangladesh in what was widely interpreted as a pointed diplomatic rebuke to Yunus’s “landlocked” comment and his China tilt. This move is likely to severely impact Bangladesh, especially as its exports are already under strain following new U.S. tariffs.

S Jaishankar noted that India’s approach is to address all important issues jointly rather than selecting only those that suit one side’s interests.

Both leaders underscored the deep historical and people-to-people ties between India and Bangladesh, with Modi reiterating his support for a democratic, stable, and inclusive Bangladesh. This exchange, set against the backdrop of Yunus’s bold declarations in China, illustrates a complex diplomatic landscape in which Bangladesh is striving to redefine its identity and regional role while navigating sensitive bilateral concerns with India.

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BY SHREYANSHU SATYAM

TEAM GEOSTRATA

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