US backs Bangladesh amid China’s objections on QUAD

<p>
The US has backed Bangladesh saying that it respects Dhaka’s sovereignty. On Tuesday the Sheikh Hasina government lashed out at China for threatening it with severe consequences in case Dhaka joined initiatives driven by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or QUAD.</p>
<p>
"What we would say is that we respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, and we respect Bangladesh’s right to make foreign policy decisions for itself," Ned Price, Spokesperson of the US Department of State said. According to Dhaka Tribune, Price said the US has “an incredibly strong relationship with Bangladesh” and works closely with the South Asian nation “on a range of issues — from economic growth to climate change to humanitarian issues.”</p>
<p>
"And when it comes to the Quad, we have said this before, but the Quad, it’s an informal, essential, multilateral mechanism that right now convenes likeminded democracies — the United States, India, Australia, and Japan — to coordinate in the Indo-Pacific, and fundamentally, to push forward our goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Dhaka Tribune quoted Price as saying.</p>
<p>
On Monday, China warned Bangladesh of grave consequences if the latter participated in QUAD driven initiatives. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming said that bilateral ties between China and Bangladesh would be severely damaged it the latter participated in QUAD initiatives.</p>
<p>
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen described Li’s statement as “regrettable.” He shot back at China saying that Bangladesh is an independent country and will chalk out its own foreign policies.</p>
<p>
"We’re an independent and sovereign state. We decide our [own] foreign policy,” he said.  </p>