Beijing, August 29: China officially unveiled the 2023 edition of its “standard map” on Monday, encompassing disputed regions such as its assertions over Arunachal Pradesh, the Aksai Chin region, Taiwan, and the contested South China Sea.
In response, India has consistently affirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of the country’s territory.
According to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the state-run Global Times, “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.”
The post further explained, “This map is compiled based on the drawing method of the national boundaries of China and various countries in the world.”
The map presented by the Global Times displayed Arunachal Pradesh, which China labels as South Tibet, along with the Aksai Chin area that it occupied during the 1962 conflict. Despite China’s claims, India has consistently maintained that “Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”
Furthermore, the map also highlighted China’s contentions over Taiwan, which it considers as part of its mainland, with its integration being a key objective for Chinese President Xi Jinping. Additionally, the map encompassed China’s expansive claim through the nine-dash line, which covers a significant portion of the South China Sea.
It’s important to note that Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have counterclaims in the South China Sea region, leading to ongoing disputes over these areas.
