China’s detention of an Indian citizen whose passport listed Arunachal Pradesh has revived a long-running territorial dispute between China and India. For Bangladesh, the incident is not a distant quarrel. It is a reminder that South Asia’s stability depends on predictable borders, respect for sovereignty, and the fair treatment of citizens in international travel.
India’s position that Arunachal Pradesh, a state of 1.4 million people, is an integral part of its territory is consistent with decades of regional practice and international law. China’s claim, by contrast, introduces uncertainty into a region already strained by military stand-offs along the Line of Actual Control.
Bangladesh has built a working relationship with both powers, but its long-term national interests align most closely with a secure and cooperative South Asian neighborhood. India is Bangladesh’s largest neighbor, a key trading partner, and an essential stakeholder in connectivity, energy, and border management. Supporting India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh is not an act of hostility toward China. It is a principled stand for regional stability and a rules-based order. Dhaka should make clear that unilateral pressure tactics, including immigration actions tied to disputed maps, have no place in Asia’s future.
This approach helps stabilize Asia, since open conflict or cold hostility between India and China would weaken regional economic growth and undermine the interests of every Asian nation, especially small ones like Bangladesh.