China’s Increasing Footprint Near India’s “Chicken’s Neck”: A Comprehensive Explainer
In recent weeks, geopolitical attention in South Asia has sharpened around a narrow strip of land in eastern India known as the Siliguri Corridor, colloquially called the “Chicken’s Neck.” A combination of diplomatic outreach, strategic development projects involving China and Bangladesh, and responses from Indian defence and political circles has elevated concerns about the region’s stability and strategic balance. This article explains the background, driving factors, implications for people and states, and what the future might hold.
What Is the “Chicken’s Neck” and Why It Matters
The Siliguri Corridor — commonly referred to as the Chicken’s Neck — is a slender stretch of territory in the Indian state of West Bengal that links the country’s populous northeast (eight states including Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh) to the rest of the mainland. At its narrowest point, this corridor is roughly 20–22 kilometres wide and bounded by Nepal to the west and Bangladesh to the south. To the northeast lies Bhutan, and beyond that the strategic Chumbi Valley of China’s Tibet region.
This corridor is a critical lifeline — economically, logistically, and militarily — because all land transportation (roads, railways) connecting northeastern India to the rest of the country must pass through it. Disruption of this corridor could sever those connections, isolating more than 40 million people and affecting trade, supplies, and defence logistics.
Historically, Indian defence analysts have been wary of this vulnerability for decades, especially since the 1962 India–China war and subsequent tensions over Himalayan borders. Its strategic sensitivity has been compared to a bottleneck whose blockage would have grave consequences in a major conflict.
The Emerging Controversy: China, Bangladesh and Strategic Moves
China’s Engagement in Northern Bangladesh
In January 2026, Bangladesh’s interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus invited the Chinese ambassador, Yao Wen, to visit a project site near the Teesta River in northern Bangladesh. The Teesta River area lies close to the Siliguri Corridor on the Bangladesh side of the border. Dhaka described the visit as tied to a Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, a developmental and water-management initiative involving Chinese technical support.
While Dhaka framed the engagement in economic and environmental terms, the optics of a Chinese diplomatic visit to a location near such a strategic corridor drew sharp attention in New Delhi. Indian media and officials noted that even “technical assessments” so close to the narrow corridor raise questions about the extent and nature of China’s role in the region.
Bangladesh’s Strategic Posture and Bilateral Shifts
Bangladesh has historically pursued a balanced foreign policy, maintaining close cooperation with India while cultivating ties with China. Under previous leadership, Dhaka and New Delhi had strengthened security collaboration, and Bangladesh actively countered militant networks with Indian support. However, changes in Bangladesh’s internal political landscape since 2024 have shifted this balance.
The interim government under Yunus has sought increased Chinese investment, technical cooperation on infrastructure, and foreign economic engagement. During Yunus’s visit to Beijing in 2025, Bangladesh secured pledges of expanded economic cooperation, major investments, and development programs, including Chinese involvement in water projects and other sectors.
These developments have led some analysts to see a recalibration of Dhaka’s strategic posture — possibly moving toward closer China–Bangladesh cooperation. While Bangladesh insists it acts in its sovereign developmental interests, India views such shifts through the prism of security and geopolitical risk because of the proximity to the Siliguri Corridor.
Renewed Focus on Lalmonirhat Airbase
Another dimension to the issue is Bangladesh’s reported plan to revive the long-dormant Lalmonirhat airbase in its northern Rangpur Division, close to the India border. Satellite and media reports suggest Chinese officials have inspected the site, and Bangladesh is seeking technical assistance. If revived, the airbase would be only about 12–15 kilometres from the Indian border, triggering further scrutiny from Indian defence establishments.
Though Dhaka asserts its right to develop its infrastructure, Indian officials worry about potential civilian or military use and whether such facilities could host assets that enhance China’s surveillance or force projection capabilities near India’s northeastern gateway.
Origins of the Current Geopolitical Tension
Several broader trends feed into the controversy:
1. Long-Standing India–China Strategic Competition
India and China have a complex and sometimes fraught relationship, marked by border disputes in the Himalayas and strategic competition across Asia. New Delhi has invested heavily in bolstering its own eastern defences, including upgrades along the China-India Line of Actual Control (LAC) and enhanced infrastructure around the Siliguri Corridor.
Strategic thinkers have long warned of the potential for adversaries to “choke” the Chicken’s Neck in a future conflict, and developments near the corridor are watched closely by defence planners.
2. Bangladesh’s Domestic Dynamics
Bangladesh’s internal politics — including the transition to an interim government and preparations for elections in 2026 — have added complexity. With shifts in leadership and foreign policy orientation, there is greater room for varied external engagement. China’s economic offerings and developmental projects have, in some cases, filled gaps where other negotiations (such as on water-sharing of the Teesta) have lagged with India.
3. Regional Connective Politics
Bangladesh sits at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia. Infrastructure interests — including river projects, ports, and transport corridors — connect Dhaka with geopolitical actors across the region. China’s Belt and Road Initiative and broader push into South Asia intersect with Bangladesh’s ambitions for growth and investment, blurring purely strategic concerns with economic imperatives.
Impact on People and Countries
India: Strategic Sensitivities and Defence Posture
For India, the developments have sparked a renewed security review of the eastern frontier. Indian defence and intelligence agencies have reportedly stepped up patrols, established new forward garrisons, and reinforced air defence readiness to secure the Siliguri Corridor.
This includes reviving and upgrading layered defence infrastructure, revamping unused airstrips, and enhancing rapid response capacity — all with the aim of safeguarding the key lifeline connecting the mainland with the northeast.
Bangladesh: Economic Aspirations vs. Diplomatic Balancing
In Bangladesh, the Teesta project and other initiatives hold promise for local economic development, better water management, and job creation. The northern region, including Rangpur and Lalmonirhat, historically faces development challenges, and infrastructure investments can deliver tangible local benefits.
At the same time, political debates within Bangladesh reflect differing views on foreign alliances, national sovereignty, and the role of major powers in influencing domestic policy. Maintaining a balanced foreign policy — neither overly aligned with India nor China — remains a difficult diplomatic path.
Local Communities and Border Populations
Border communities on both sides of the India-Bangladesh border are sensitive to changes in security posture or cross-border tensions. Heightened military movements, increased patrols, and political rhetoric can affect everyday life — from restrictions on movement to anxieties about sudden diplomatic shifts.
However, many residents in border areas are more immediately focused on livelihoods, cross-border trade, and agricultural productivity, which may be influenced by river projects, infrastructure development, and bilateral cooperation on shared resources.
What Comes Next? Outlook and Scenarios
The evolving situation around the Siliguri Corridor should be understood as part of a broader regional geopolitical dynamic rather than an isolated flashpoint.
1. Diplomacy and Bilateral Negotiations
India and Bangladesh share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties. Renewed diplomatic engagement — including on longstanding issues like Teesta river water sharing — could temper strategic anxieties. Transparent frameworks for cooperation that reassure New Delhi while respecting Dhaka’s sovereignty can stabilize the dynamic.
2. Strategic Signalling and Defence Preparedness
India is likely to continue strengthening its eastern defences and exploring alternative connectivity routes to the northeast that reduce absolute dependence on the Siliguri Corridor, such as multimodal transport linkages via Bangladesh and Myanmar.
3. Role of China and Global Power Plays
China’s presence in South Asia continues to expand through economic and infrastructure projects. Whether this translates into persistent strategic pressure near India’s most sensitive chokepoint depends on Dhaka’s internal policy choices, regional balances, and the extent to which New Delhi and Beijing manage competitive interests without escalation.
4. Domestic Politics in Bangladesh
The outcome of Bangladesh’s 2026 elections and subsequent government policy will shape Dhaka’s foreign alignments. A pragmatic approach balancing relations with both India and China could mitigate tensions. A more pronounced tilt toward Beijing, however, could deepen strategic mistrust.
Conclusion
The recent sequence of events around the Chicken’s Neck — from Chinese diplomatic movement near the Teesta River project to Bangladesh’s evolving strategic engagements — highlights the enduring importance of geography, history, and power politics in South Asia. The corridor remains more than a map feature; it symbolizes the complex interplay of national security, domestic politics, and regional alliances.
Rather than triggering an immediate crisis, these developments underscore the need for careful diplomacy, robust defence readiness, and inclusive regional dialogues. The future of the Siliguri Corridor will be shaped not just by military balance but by the ability of India, Bangladesh, and China to manage competing interests while avoiding steps that intensify mistrust or destabilize the region.