Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Russia and China on Thursday vetoed a U.S.-drafted United Nations Security Council resolution that sought to extend the mandate of a panel of experts monitoring international sanctions on Iran. The resolution received 11 votes in favor, while Pakistan and Somalia abstained. The Russian and Chinese vetoes blocked its adoption.

The proposed resolution would have extended the mandate of the independent panel of experts for another year. The panel was established to monitor implementation of sanctions imposed on Iran and report possible violations to the 15-member Security Council.

The vote comes amid a wider dispute over the legal status of UN sanctions on Iran. Western countries, including Britain, France and Germany, triggered the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement in 2025, arguing that Tehran had violated its nuclear commitments. The move resulted in the reimposition of UN sanctions.

Russia and China reject the Western interpretation and argue that the UN sanctions had expired when Security Council Resolution 2231 reached its scheduled end date in October 2025. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the U.S.-backed resolution lacked a legal basis and urged the parties to resolve the nuclear dispute through political and diplomatic means.

The United States criticized the vetoes, saying the absence of an independent panel would create a gap in monitoring sanctions violations. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta said the panel provided impartial, evidence-based reporting on potential violations.

France and other Western members also criticized the veto, while stressing that the veto does not itself remove the sanctions that they consider to remain in force. The dispute has also left the Security Council divided over how to monitor Iran’s nuclear-related activities and enforce sanctions. The UN sanctions include measures affecting Iranian assets, arms-related transactions and ballistic-missile activities.

The latest vote highlights continuing divisions among the permanent members of the Security Council over Iran’s nuclear program, the validity of the sanctions and the role of international monitoring.

BEIJING — China has urged the United States to halt its military buildup in outer space, warning that the deployment of weapons in orbit could trigger a global arms race and increase strategic tensions.

The warning followed comments from U.S. officials acknowledging that the United States has weapons deployed in orbit. U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the weapons are intended to help defend against hostile actions involving space. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing opposes the weaponization of outer space and called on Washington to stop expanding its military capabilities there.

“China stands for peaceful use of outer space and keeping it safe, and opposes any arms race in outer space,” Guo said at a Foreign Ministry briefing on September 15. He urged the United States to maintain global strategic stability through concrete actions.

Chinese state media and military analysts have also warned that the expansion of U.S. military capabilities in orbit could encourage other countries to develop counter-space weapons, potentially creating a cycle of competition and increasing the risk of conflict in space.

The issue highlights growing international concerns over the military use of space. Russia has separately called for efforts to prevent an arms race in outer space, arguing that a legally binding agreement could help restrict offensive weapons in orbit.

The United States and China are already competing across several strategic areas, including advanced technology, artificial intelligence and military capabilities. The latest dispute adds space security to the growing list of issues affecting relations between the two powers.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — North Korea continues to deploy tens of thousands of workers overseas in violation of United Nations sanctions, generating hundreds of millions of dollars that the country’s government allegedly uses to support its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT).

The MSMT, a multilateral mechanism established in October 2024 to monitor implementation of UN sanctions against North Korea, estimated that between 35,600 and 101,280 North Korean workers remain deployed abroad, with nearly all located in China and Russia.

The report says the overseas labor network generated an estimated $450 million to $800 million in 2025, despite UN Security Council resolutions requiring member states to end such employment and repatriate North Korean nationals earning income in their territories.

According to the MSMT, at least 17 countries are suspected of continuing to host North Korean workers. The UN Security Council adopted measures in 2017 under Resolutions 2375 and 2397 that prohibited member states from providing work authorization to North Korean nationals and required countries to repatriate North Koreans earning income in their jurisdictions by the end of 2019.

China and Russia remain major destinations

The report estimates that between 20,000 and 70,000 North Korean workers are deployed in China. While an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 workers were temporarily repatriated from China between 2023 and 2025, the MSMT said approximately 10,000 new North Korean workers arrived in China between January 2025 and January 2026. Russia has also become a major destination for North Korean laborers. The MSMT estimates that between 15,000 and 30,000 North Korean workers were in Russia at the end of 2025.

The report says some North Korean workers in Russia have been involved in manufacturing military drones and other activities connected to Russia’s defense-industrial sector. The MSMT identified North Korean workers at facilities involved in areas including drone production, arms manufacturing, steel processing and shipbuilding. The report also says Russia has used a student-visa scheme that the MSMT considers a mechanism for disguising some North Korean workers as students.

Most wages allegedly seized by North Korea

The MSMT estimates that North Korean authorities confiscate 80% to 90% of workers’ wages. In some cases, the report says, the amount taken can exceed workers’ actual earnings, leaving them indebted to the North Korean government.

North Korean authorities also maintain strict controls over workers’ movements and contacts with outsiders, according to the report. Workers who attempt to defect face the risk of retaliation against family members who remain in North Korea.

The report estimates that a North Korean worker in Russia generates an average of about $7,500 in annual wages, while monthly earnings can be several times higher than those of workers in China, depending on the industry.

MSMT seeks restoration of UN expert panel

The latest report also addresses the monitoring gap created after the UN Security Council’s 1718 Committee Panel of Experts was disbanded in April 2024 following Russia’s veto of a resolution extending its mandate. The MSMT said its latest findings are intended to help the international community implement existing UN sanctions and identify efforts to circumvent them.

The participating governments called for the UN Security Council to reestablish the Panel of Experts with the same strength and structure it had before its dissolution. The MSMT said it will continue monitoring implementation of UN sanctions related to North Korea and reporting suspected violations and sanctions-evasion activities.

The participating governments also urged UN member states to increase awareness of the risks associated with employing North Korean overseas laborers and to take domestic action against parties and facilitators involved in alleged violations of UN sanctions.

Source: Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT); joint statement by participating governments.

DHAKA – Bangladesh and China today discussed launching a State Minister-level Diplomacy and Defense Dialogue alongside an early Foreign Minister-level Strategic Dialogue as the two countries seek to further deepen their strategic partnership. The issue was discussed when Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the foreign ministry here, according to a ministry press release.

During the meeting, Kobir described China as a “trusted friend and valued strategic partner” of Bangladesh and reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to the One-China Principle. He expressed satisfaction over the renewed momentum in bilateral relations and the elevation of the ties to a “China-Bangladesh Community with a Shared Future” following Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China.

The two sides discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including cooperation on the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration and the early launching of the Foreign Minister-level Strategic Dialogue.

They also discussed beginning the State Minister-level Diplomacy and Defense Dialogue, initiating the process for exporting Bangladeshi jackfruit and guava to China, the China-Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Corridor and cooperation on the Rohingya issue.

Ambassador Yao congratulated Kobir on assuming office and sought his support to further advance the longstanding and close relationship between the two countries.

He also conveyed felicitations from China’s Executive Deputy Foreign Minister to the state minister. The Chinese envoy briefed Kobir on progress regarding outcomes of the prime minister’s recent China visit, including the groundbreaking of the China Economic and Industrial Zone (CEIZ) and signing of a commercial contract for modernisation of Mongla Port.

Possible cooperation on establishing a Mongla Export Processing Zone (EPZ) also featured in the discussion. Yao said the CEIZ is expected to attract around 30 Chinese companies with approximately US$500 million in investment, potentially creating an estimated 100,000 jobs for Bangladeshis.

The ambassador also briefed the state minister on upcoming high-level exchanges and visits, including planned visits to Bangladesh by the Vice President of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), the Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), and the Executive Vice Governor of Yunnan Province. Yao also invited Kobir to visit China in October this year.

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh has prepared a draft agreement to negotiate the purchase of 20 Chinese J-10CE multirole fighter jets at an estimated cost of $2.14 billion, as the government moves ahead with a major plan to modernize the Bangladesh Air Force. Government sources said the proposed acquisition would be financed over eight fiscal years, with the procurement process expected to run from the current 2026–27 fiscal year through 2034–35.

Ten of the aircraft are planned to meet existing operational requirements, while the remaining 10 would be used to establish a new fighter squadron within the Bangladesh Air Force. The development was disclosed after Prime Minister’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said Tuesday that the government was advancing the process of purchasing J-10 fighter aircraft from China.

$2.14 billion procurement plan

According to documents cited by government sources, each J-10CE is estimated to cost about $62.7 million. At an exchange rate of Tk123 to the U.S. dollar, that would put the price of each aircraft at roughly Tk7.71 billion. The 20 aircraft would cost approximately $1.256 billion, while additional expenditure would cover pilot and technical training, transportation and operational equipment.

The broader procurement package is estimated at approximately $2.14 billion, according to the documents. Bangladesh initially expected the procurement to be completed during the 2025–26 and 2026–27 fiscal years. More recent government documents, however, indicate that payments and implementation would continue through 2034–35. Defense sources said Bangladesh is seeking to receive six J-10 aircraft by 2027, with the remaining 14 aircraft delivered in phases.

Government-to-government purchase

The proposed purchase would be conducted either through a government-to-government arrangement with China or through direct negotiations with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), according to the documents. A committee formed to negotiate the purchase of J-10 aircraft and attack helicopters has already prepared a draft agreement and forwarded it to the Armed Forces Division.

The Bangladesh Air Force is currently evaluating the technical and financial proposals associated with the procurement. The modernization program also includes plans to acquire anti-drone systems, long-range radar, electronic warfare systems and passive defense systems.

New fighter squadron and air force infrastructure

Under the proposed acquisition plan, Bangladesh would establish a new multirole combat aircraft unit. The government is also working on restructuring elements of the country’s air warfare and field infrastructure, while some activities related to establishing an aerospace research and development complex are underway.

Documents also indicate that Bangladesh is pursuing land acquisition for the establishment of a full-fledged air base in Bogura, aimed at expanding Bangladesh Air Force flight and operational capabilities in the country’s northern and northwestern regions.

Why Bangladesh is considering the J-10CE

Bangladesh has been seeking to modernize its fighter fleet for several years. The country’s existing combat aircraft are aging, raising concerns over their ability to meet modern air-defense requirements. The J-10CE has attracted additional attention in Bangladesh following the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, when Pakistan deployed Chinese-made J-10C-series aircraft.

Pakistan claimed that its J-10s were used to shoot down several Indian aircraft, including Rafale fighters. India acknowledged losing aircraft during the conflict but did not publicly confirm the number or the specific aircraft involved.

International reporting has also examined India’s reported loss of Rafale aircraft during the fighting. The precise number and circumstances surrounding those losses remain subject to differing accounts. The conflict nevertheless drew international attention to the capabilities of China’s J-10C/J-10CE family of fighter aircraft.

J-10CE versus Rafale

The J-10CE is the export version of China’s J-10C and is designed as a multirole combat aircraft, capable of performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Bangladesh currently operates fighter aircraft primarily focused on air-defense missions, while the proposed J-10CE acquisition would provide a broader multirole capability.

The J-10CE is capable of supersonic flight and is designed for high maneuverability and modern aerial combat. Its advanced radar, electronic systems and weapons integration are among the features that have attracted interest from potential foreign buyers. The aircraft is generally considered a 4.5-generation fighter, while France’s Rafale is also widely classified in the 4.5-generation category.

Bangladesh has considered Western fighters

Bangladesh’s interest in modern fighter aircraft predates the current J-10CE proposal. Since 2016, Dhaka has considered a number of options for modernizing its combat fleet, including France’s Rafale, the European Eurofighter Typhoon and U.S.-made F-16 aircraft. French President Emmanuel Macron also promoted the Rafale during his September 2023 visit to Dhaka. The decision to pursue the J-10CE therefore represents a significant shift toward a Chinese platform for Bangladesh’s next-generation multirole fighter capability.

Broader military modernization

The fighter procurement is part of a wider effort to strengthen Bangladesh’s defense capabilities. According to the government, procurement initiatives are also underway for attack helicopters, VIP helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicle systems.

The proposed J-10CE deal would be one of Bangladesh’s largest military acquisitions and would further deepen the country’s longstanding defense relationship with China. For now, the procurement remains subject to negotiations, technical and financial evaluation and the necessary government approvals.