Desk Report: China has raised objections over the depiction of certain territorial regions in Bangladeshi textbooks and on the website of the Department of Survey, urging corrections in line with Beijing’s territorial claims. According to diplomatic sources, China formally requested Bangladesh in late November to revise maps and information that it considers inaccurate. The primary concerns relate to the portrayal of Arunachal Pradesh (Zangnan) and Aksai Chin as part of India, regions that China claims as its own. Additionally, Beijing has objected to the classification of Hong Kong and Taiwan as independent countries, insisting that they are integral parts of China. China has emphasized that maintaining accurate territorial depictions is essential for sovereignty and urged Bangladesh to adhere to the One China Policy.
The disputed content appears in multiple sources, including the fourth-grade madrasa textbook, “Bangladesh and World Studies,” which allegedly misrepresents the China-India border, and the ninth and tenth-grade edition of the same textbook, where Hong Kong and Taiwan are listed as independent countries in Bangladesh’s export destinations. Similarly, the Department of Survey’s website reportedly presents maps that do not align with China’s territorial claims over Zangnan and Aksai Chin.
Following China’s objections, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs consulted with the Ministry of Education and the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). However, the NCTB informed authorities that the new textbooks had already been printed, making immediate corrections impractical. Bangladesh has requested China to refrain from pressing the issue at this time, assuring that any necessary adjustments will be considered in due course. Officials also pointed out that such modifications must align with internationally accepted protocols and cannot be made unilaterally.
Analysts believe that China’s sudden objections may be influenced by shifting political dynamics, including recent tensions in Bangladesh-India relations, ongoing China-India border disputes, and Bangladesh’s domestic situation following the August 5 student-led protests. Some suggest that Beijing’s move aligns with its broader efforts to assert its position on disputed territories.
Senior former Bangladeshi diplomats, speaking anonymously, noted that China had not raised such concerns in the past. They emphasized that the dispute over Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin is primarily a bilateral issue between China and India and that since no final resolution has been reached, Bangladesh should continue following internationally recognized standards in representing global maps. They suggested that Bangladesh should carefully communicate to China that any textbook revisions must be handled through proper academic and diplomatic processes.
China, for its part, insists that Zangnan and Aksai Chin’s territorial status was settled in ancient times and should not be disputed. It maintains that Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory and that Hong Kong has been under Chinese sovereignty since 1997. Beijing has urged Bangladesh to align with historically settled territorial narratives, emphasizing that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity has been the foundation of Bangladesh-China relations. While China has momentarily refrained from exerting pressure, the concerns remain unresolved, leaving the issue open for further diplomatic negotiations.