After Pakistan CPEC, China is looking to open new economic corridor connecting Bangladesh and Myanmar. China announced that it plans to move forward with a new economic corridor connecting it to Bangladesh and Myanmar, while also allowing for the possibility of other nations joining later. The move gives Beijing a fresh route to the Bay of Bengal, echoing the strategic function that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor already plays on India's western border, only this time, the pressure point sits on India's eastern side.The plan surfaced after Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman travelled to China recently, where the corridor idea was reportedly discussed in detail. At its core, the project aims to build stronger transport links, roads, railways, and multimodal cargo routes, stretching from Kunming in China down to Bangladeshi seaports. One of those ports is Mongla, which Dhaka had originally promised to India before switching sides and handing the development contract to Beijing instead.Diplomacy Gets An Upgrade TooIt isn't just about roads and ports. Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh, Yao Wen, told reporters that the two governments are now looking at deepening their political and military ties as well. In his words:"Dhaka and Beijing have also agreed to explore a '2+2' dialogue mechanism on diplomacy and defence."A '2+2' format typically brings together top diplomats and defence officials from both sides for joint talks, a setup India itself uses with countries like the US and Japan. Bangladesh adopting a similar mechanism with China signals just how far the relationship has progressed.Not A New Idea, Says ChinaAmbassador Yao was quick to point out that a China-linked corridor through this region isn't some brand-new concept. He recalled an older, long-shelved proposal: "There were discussions on a Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, but there was no progress."That BCIM plan dates back to 1999 and had once envisioned linking all four countries, including India, through road, rail, water, and air connections. It never really took off. This time, China appears to be moving forward without waiting for India's buy-in, choosing instead to build bilateral momentum with Dhaka first.Yao also made it clear the current corridor is only a starting point, not a closed club: "This (China-Bangladesh) cooperation is not the end of the game. We are open, and we welcome other countries if they are ready to join. But it is up to them to decide if they want to be part of it or whether they prefer to wait."China-Bangladesh Relationship On Fast-ForwardNone of this is happening in isolation. Ties between Beijing and Dhaka have been warming steadily since 2024, after Sheikh Hasina's exit as prime minister opened the door for a very different kind of foreign policy in Bangladesh. Since then, the two countries have moved on several fronts at once, from restoring the Teesta river to reports that China is helping build up the Lalmonirhat airbase, located close to India's eastern border.