China has objected to the Asia map shown in two Bangladeshi textbooks and on Bangladesh’s Department of Survey website claiming that Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin have been "incorrectly depicted as parts of India."

According to ET, China sent a letter to Bangladesh's interim government in November last year, requesting "corrections" to the maps and information presented in the textbooks and on the website.

However, Bangladesh refused to take hasty action and asked for time to review the request. According to reports, China backed down after Dhaka assured them that the issue would be addressed at an appropriate time. This is the first instance in recent years China hailed such a request to any of India's neighbouring countries.

In its letter, China stated that along with this "factual discrepancy," both the textbooks and the survey department's website had wrongly depicted Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate countries instead of acknowledging them as part of China. Beijing also pointed out that the map of Asia in the fourth-grade madrasa textbook Bangladesh and World Studies "misrepresents the borders between China and India, particularly regarding Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin," according to information obtained by ET.

Beijing complained that the ninth- and tenth-grade Bangladesh and World Studies textbooks also listed Hong Kong and Taiwan as independent countries among Bangladesh's export destinations. After China raised objections, Bangladesh's foreign affairs ministry held discussions with the education ministry and the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB).

China has highlighted its long-standing ties with Bangladesh, stressing the importance of mutual respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Over the years, both countries have strengthened their relationship by supporting each other’s key interests and addressing shared concerns through cooperation. This has led to the developing of a strong, stable and lasting partnership. In this context, Beijing expected that Bangladesh would uphold historically settled matters and adhere to the One China policy.

China has also urged Bangladesh to take its concerns about inaccuracies seriously, correct them and implement measures to prevent similar errors in the future.

However, according to the report, several former senior Bangladeshi diplomats noted Dhaka had never previously faced such objections from China regarding maps.