China has raised objections regarding the depiction of certain territorial regions in Bangladeshi textbooks and the website of the Department of Survey.
According to Beijing, two textbooks and the website inaccurately represent Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of India, whereas China asserts that these regions have historically belonged to them.
Additionally, China claims that Hong Kong and Taiwan have been incorrectly classified as separate countries rather than as parts of China.
Diplomatic sources have confirmed that China formally requested Bangladesh to rectify these issues in late November. The request was made through an official letter urging the correction of maps and information in the textbooks and the survey department�s website.
Subsequent discussions between the two nations followed, but China has momentarily refrained from applying pressure on the matter at Bangladesh�s request.
Following China's objection, Bangladesh�s Ministry of Foreign Affairs consulted with the Ministry of Education and the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB). The NCTB informed the authorities that the printing process for the new textbooks had already been completed, leaving no room for immediate corrections.
Additionally, they pointed out that such modifications could not be implemented abruptly. Bangladesh requested China to refrain from pressing the issue at this time and assured that a resolution would be sought in due course.
Sources indicate that the maps and classifications, which China has identified as erroneous, have been in use for a long time. Analysts suggest that Beijing�s recent move may be influenced by shifting political dynamics, including the changes in Bangladesh�s domestic situation following the August 5 student-led protests and the current strain in Bangladesh-India relations.
China has objected to specific depictions in the textbooks and on the survey department�s website. In the fourth-grade madrasa textbook "Bangladesh and World Studies," a map of Asia reportedly misrepresents the borders between China and India, particularly regarding Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh) and Aksai Chin. Similarly, in the ninth and tenth-grade "Bangladesh and World Studies" textbook, the list of Bangladesh�s export destinations identifies Hong Kong and Taiwan as independent countries, which Beijing considers a misclassification.
China has also objected to the map presented on the website of Bangladesh�s Department of Survey, which, according to Beijing, inaccurately represents the border between China and India. Furthermore, the classification of Taiwan as a country has been flagged as incorrect by the Chinese authorities.
In its defense, China argues that the territorial status of Zangnan and Aksai Chin was settled in ancient times and is beyond dispute. According to Beijing, the correct depiction of national borders is essential for maintaining sovereignty and territorial integrity. China also insists that Taiwan is an inseparable part of its territory, asserting that the "One China Policy" is a fundamental principle of international relations recognized by the global community.
Beijing further emphasizes that Hong Kong has been under Chinese sovereignty since July 1, 1997, following diplomatic negotiations with the United Kingdom, and thus should not be categorized as a separate country.
China has called on Bangladesh to adhere to the "One China Policy" and align with historically settled territorial narratives. Beijing has stressed that mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity has been the foundation of Bangladesh-China relations and expects Bangladesh to address its concerns accordingly. China has urged Bangladesh to take necessary corrective measures to avoid similar discrepancies in the future.
However, several senior former Bangladeshi diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, have stated that they have not encountered such objections from China in the past. They believe that the ongoing border conflicts between China and India have led both nations to reinforce their respective territorial claims, which China now expects Bangladesh to reflect in its materials.
These diplomats argue that this is primarily a bilateral dispute between China and India, and since no final resolution has been reached between them, Bangladesh should continue to follow internationally recognized standards in representing global maps. They suggest that Bangladesh should carefully communicate to China that any changes to textbooks would have to follow internationally accepted protocols and cannot be made unilaterally.
