Strategic Analysis: Rebutting US Claims of Potential PLA Basing in Bangladesh

Reading Time: 3 minutes In its 2024 Annual Report to Congress on Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the United States Department of Defense (DoD) included Bangladesh among a list of nations the PRC has “probably considered” for hosting People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military logistics facilities. The report stated: “The PRC probably has considered other countries as locations for PLA military logistics facilities, including but not limited to Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Cuba, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Gabon, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tajikistan.” A subsequent sentence reiterated: “The PRC has likely considered Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, Nigeria, Namibia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Tajikistan.” Although the DoD’s language carefully couches the claim in probabilistic terms, its inclusion