Arunachal to Aksai Chin, China releases new ‘standard’ map with territorial claims

September 11, 2023

New Delhi: China has released its standard map reiterating its claims over Indian territories, including Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, besides Taiwan and a large part of the South China Sea.

The state-run Global Times put out the map on social platform X, earlier known as Twitter.

“The 2023 edition of China’s standard map was officially released on Monday and launched on the website of the standard map service hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources. This map is compiled based on the drawing method of the national boundaries of China and various countries in the world,” Global Times said.

In February, Chinese President Xi Jinping had issued new standards for the contents of maps, “in order to strengthen map management, safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and promote the healthy development of the geographic information industry”.

The new regulations had said that the “map of China should always accurately reflect the scope of China’s territory”.

The full map of China should show important islands such as Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands), the Diaoyu Islands and the affiliated important islands, according to the regulations.

“The southernmost point of Hainan island should be shown on the south side of the main map of China when Nanhai Zhudao are shown in the form of attached drawings. The contents described on the map shall not affect the complete expression of China’s territory,” it said.

Maps of China’s Taiwan region should include the Diaoyu Islands and Chiwei Yu (except maps named after “the island of Taiwan”), the regulations said.

The new map takes into account all of these directives.

Sources in the defence and security establishment said the new map is a reiteration of China’s stated position and previous maps when it comes to claims over Indian territories.

Asked about slight discrepancies in the map showing Ladakh regions, the sources said India has in the past made it clear that Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh are its integral parts.

Mere maps issued by any country do not change the facts on ground, they pointed out.

Asked about the timing of the release of the map since it comes ahead of Xi’s visit next month for the G20 SUmmit, the sources refused to comment.

In April, China had released a list of what it calls “standardized geographical names” for 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, along with a map depicting much of the state as “Zangnan”, the southern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Back then, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had outrightly rejected China’s attempt to rename places of Arunachal Pradesh.