Has Bangladesh's Prime Minister's Adviser Confirmed the Purchase of China's J-10 Fighter Jets?
Does Bangladesh Also Want to Buy the J-10?
On the 25th, Reuters reported that Bangladesh's Prime Minister's Adviser Rahman told media outlets that Dhaka is currently considering the possibility of purchasing China's J-10 fighter jets. A committee responsible for defense procurement has already drafted and submitted an operational agreement to the Ministry of Armed Forces of Bangladesh, which will now enter formal review and administrative approval procedures.
To be fair, the news that Bangladesh might buy the J-10 is no longer particularly surprising. Earlier last year, South Asian media outlets had already hinted at Bangladesh’s interest in acquiring the J-10, but due to the lack of official disclosure from Bangladeshi authorities regarding negotiation progress, these reports remained confined to speculation.
In June this year, the Bangladeshi newspaper The Contract cited a government official stating that Bangladesh hoped to finalize a fighter jet procurement agreement with China before August — however, it now appears that if Bangladesh has indeed begun discussions with China over purchasing the J-10, the negotiation progress may not be as smooth as expected.
Naturally, if this arms deal were to go through, India would be the most anxious party. Indian media have repeatedly expressed concern about Bangladesh’s potential acquisition of the J-10, warning that once the J-10 is deployed in Bangladesh, India would face pressure from fourth-generation-plus Chinese fighter jets on both its eastern and western flanks.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1874575687924744/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.