Territorial Assertions
China has released its official “standard map,” including state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region as part of its territory.
The map released on August 28 shows Arunachal Pradesh which China claims as South Tibet and Aksai Chin occupied by it in the 1962 war as part of its territory.
Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea are also included within the Chinese territory in the new map.
Tensions and Claims
China’s 2023 official map, unveiled by the Ministry of Natural Resources, employs national boundaries to represent global geography, possibly raising tensions with neighboring
countries. It also reaffirms China’s expansive South China Sea claims.
Disputed Regions and Diplomacy
Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have all claims over the South China Sea areas. Leaders of India (Narendra Modi) and China (Xi Jinping) discussed unresolved issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Both sides emphasized peace along the border and efforts at disengagement and de-escalation issues along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.
Historical context and map’s role
China’s territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh stem from its larger assertion over Tibet. Past instances of renaming Indian locations by China in 2017 and 2021 led to political tensions. In April 2023, Beijing unilaterally renamed 11 Indian places. The release of China’s 2023 map by the Ministry of Natural Resources emphasizes the role of mapping in national development and resource management. This move reinforces China’s territorial claims, sparking concerns and diplomatic dialogues, particularly concerning disputed regions and border disputes with neighboring
nations.
