Dhaka, Oct. 18 -- Japan never forces any of its friends in South Asia and beyond to make a choice between itself and China, recognising that both are important relationships for any country including Bangladesh, says a Japanese Professor and international affairs expert based in Tokyo.

"We know these are two (China-Japan) important relationships (for all of you)," Dr Masayuki Tadokoro, Professor of International Relations at Keio University, Tokyo told Dhaka Courier.

He said they never ask their friends to "downgrade or downscale" their relations with China but expects them to maintain the very basic principles - freedom of navigation, rule of law and market economy.

Bangladesh and Japan shared the ideas of a "free and open" Indo-Pacif...