Tri-nation Economic Corridor: Scholar Sees China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Partnership Redrawing South Asian Geopolitics

Chinese strategist Prof. Cheng Xizhong says the nascent China-Pakistan-Bangladesh cooperation mechanism—envisioned around a Gwadar-to-Chittagong economic corridor that would extend CPEC and eventually link Myanmar—has “strategic significance” across geopolitics, trade, security and global governance. By creating dual maritime pivots, joint industrial parks and coordinated action on counter-terrorism, water security and disaster relief, the trio can dilute regional hegemonic pressure, reduce dependence on traditional sea-lanes and give the Global South a stronger, non-antagonistic voice in climate and economic rule-setting. Despite external push-back, deepening collaboration is framed as a template for sustainable growth and collective strategic autonomy in South Asia.