The Philippines, Malaysia, and Taiwan have collectively dismissed a map released by China, asserting its sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. China, in response, urged a rational and objective evaluation of the map.
China unveiled this map on Monday, outlining its well-known U-shaped demarcation encompassing roughly 90% of the South China Sea. This region remains a contentious focal point, witnessing disputes in one of the world’s most hotly contested maritime areas, with over $3 trillion in trade flowing through annually.
The Philippines urged China to “act responsibly and adhere to its international law obligations,” citing a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated the legitimacy of this line.
Malaysia registered a diplomatic protest against the map, emphasizing that it does not hold any authoritative sway over Malaysia and viewing the South China Sea as a complex and sensitive issue.
China maintains that its line is rooted in historical maps, although it’s unclear if the latest map introduces any new territorial claims.
China’s U-shaped line extends up to 1,500 km (932 miles) south of its Hainan island and overlaps with the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.
The Philippine foreign ministry dismissed this map as an attempt to legitimize China’s claims over Philippine features and maritime zones, asserting it had no international legal basis.
Malaysia’s counterpart described the map as lacking binding authority over Malaysia, which views the South China Sea issue as intricate and sensitive.
This map differs from a narrower 2009 version submitted by China to the United Nations, known as the “nine-dash line.” The latest iteration covers a larger geographical area and includes ten dashes, bringing Taiwan into its scope, reminiscent of a 1948 Chinese map. China had also published a map with a tenth dash in 2013.
Regarding this map, Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Jeff Liu, firmly stated that Taiwan is “absolutely not a part of the People’s Republic of China” and that Taiwan’s sovereignty remains an undeniable fact.
China is presently observing a “national map awareness publicity week,” as reported by China Central Television.
When asked about the map’s change from nine to ten dashes, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin emphasized China’s consistent position on the South China Sea issue, stating that relevant parties should approach it objectively and rationally.
India also expressed strong protest against a new map by China, which claims Indian territory, adding tension to the already complex relationship between the two Asian giants.
