China’s unveiling of its latest national map has ignited objections from neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and India.
These nations have issued strong statements, accusing Beijing of making territorial claims that encroach upon their sovereign land.
China periodically updates its national map to rectify what it perceives as inaccuracies in previous versions.
These “problematic maps,” according to Beijing, misrepresent its territorial borders.
The Philippines voiced its rejection of the new map on Thursday.
They took issue with the inclusion of a dashed line around disputed areas in the South China Sea.
In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of Manila in this contested region.
The Philippines’ Foreign Affairs Department expressed its stance, stating that the map represents China’s unjustified claims and lacks a basis in international law.
India followed suit, lodging a “strong protest” on Tuesday.
They raised concerns about China’s incorporation of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai-Chin plateau within Chinese territory.
India’s foreign secretary, Arindam Bagchi, emphatically stated that these claims by China were unsubstantiated.
Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also dismissed China’s claims, characterizing them as “unilateral.”
Malaysia maintains a consistent stance of rejecting any foreign claims to sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over its maritime features.
In response to these objections, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin brushed aside the complaints, asserting that these revisions were a “routine exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law.”
He called upon all concerned parties to maintain objectivity and calmness and cautioned against overinterpreting the situation.
This map dispute comes at a sensitive time in India-China relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in power since 2012, has pursued an ambitious foreign policy agenda, seeking to elevate China to global superpower status.
His tenure has witnessed China taking assertive actions in various Asian flashpoints.
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The map controversy unfolded shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi held a rare face-to-face meeting in South Africa, where they agreed to work towards deescalating border tensions. However, experts warn that progress may not be consistent, given the complex nature of the India-China relationship.
Akhil Ramesh, a senior fellow at the Pacific Forum, noted that while both countries publicly express their desire to ease tensions, the underlying competition for global influence may hinder this objective.
India and China have a long history of border disputes, with the ill-defined Line of Actual Control (LAC) serving as a de facto border. These disputes have periodically erupted into conflicts, most notably in 1962 when China emerged victorious. The situation remains volatile, with tensions persisting since a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in 2020 and sporadic skirmishes thereafter.
India’s opposition Congress party has criticized Modi for what they perceive as his downplaying of the border issue. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of allowing China to occupy Indian territory along the LAC and demanded a resolution.
While Modi has refrained from publicly addressing the border issue, India has taken steps to counter perceived threats from China, including banning Chinese apps and excluding Chinese telecom giants from its 5G network.
Amidst rising nationalism in both countries, India’s concerns about China’s assertiveness have led to stronger ties with the United States through initiatives like the Quad, a grouping of Japan, the US, India, and Australia seen as a counterbalance to China’s influence.
Earlier this year, China boycotted a G20 tourism meeting hosted by India in the Himalayan territory of Jammu and Kashmir, citing its opposition to conducting any G20 meetings in disputed areas. This reflects the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region.