China on Wednesday defended its Bangladesh Ambassador's warning to Dhaka against joining the US-led Quad alliance, saying the envoy has made the country's position 'clear' on the issue. Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday chided China's Ambassador in Dhaka for his provocative and controversial remarks and warning of "substantial damage" to relations if Bangladesh were to join the US-led Quad alliance. <br />''<br />''Mr. Momen described the remarks as 'very unfortunate' and 'aggressive' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying avoided commenting on Mr. Momen's statement saying that she has not seen the remarks. However, she expressed China's opposition and annoyance with the Quad. She accused the Quad of being an "exclusive clique" against Beijing and said that it is trying to rally countries around China to work against China.<br />''<br />''On being grilled to respond about criticism of China's aggressive pushing of its stand on issues on smaller countries contradicting China's narrative on not interfering in any other country's internal affairs in context of ambassador Li's statement, Hua denied interfering in Bangladesh's foreign policy. Mr. Momen, while rebuking Chinese envoy, retorted that Bangladesh is a sovereign country and decides its own foreign policy.<br />''<br />''A rare and pre-emptive was issued in an undiplomatic manner by China's Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming on Monday just weeks after visiting Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe told Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid that Beijing and Dhaka should work together to combat 'outside forces' that are forming a 'political coalition' in South Asia and practicing 'hegemonism.'. As per reports, Chinese Defense Minister during his visit to Sri Lanka at the end of last month exchanged similar views with Srilankan leaders.<br />''<br />''Li Jiming on Monday warned Bangladesh against joining the four-nation group comprising the US, Australia, Japan and India, saying that Dhaka's participation in the anti-Beijing 'club' would result in 'substantial damage' to bilateral relations. China is increasingly concerned over the expansion of the grouping since officials from the US, India and Japan expressed an interest in including more 'like-minded' democracies, such as Sri Lanka, South Korea and New Zealand, to counter China's growing power in the region.<br />''<br />''Initiated in 2007, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad is an informal grouping of the US, India, Australia and Japan. The first summit of the Quad leaders was hosted by US President Joe Biden on 12th March and the virtual meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. The four Quad leaders have vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending a clear message to China against its aggressive actions in the region. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">China has vehemently opposed the formation of the Quad with a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman emphasizing in March that exchanges and cooperation between countries should help expand mutual understanding and trust, instead of targeting or harming the interests of third parties.</span><br />