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South East Asian Countries Reject China’s New Map Of South China Sea
India and China have a long-standing border dispute that dates back to the 1960s. In the western Himalayas, the Aksai Chin region and in the eastern Himalayas, the Arunachal Pradesh region are involved in the dispute. Both countries claim these territories as their own.
September 1, 2023: More countries join the chorus against China’s new map in the South China Sea. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan have all condemned China’s revised national map, which includes their own territory.
China’s new map
China published the map on August 28, 2023. The map shows the nine-dash line, a Chinese claim to the South China Sea disputed by several countries. The map also includes territories claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
The nine-dash line is a U-shaped line that China has used to claim most of the South China Sea. The bar is based on a map first published by China in 1947. However, the map needs to be recognized by international law and has been rejected by several countries, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
Disputed territories
The territories included in China’s new map are also claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. These territories include the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, and the Scarborough Shoal.
Countries reject China’s map
The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan have all rejected China’s new map, saying it violates their territorial claims.
Defiant Philippines
The Philippines has called the map a “provocative act” and said it will “not be cowed by China’s bullying.”
Malaysia says it’s unacceptable
Malaysia has said the map is “unacceptable” and will “continue to uphold its sovereignty over its territories.”
Vietnam asserts the map is “null and void”
Vietnam has said that the map is “null and void” and will “not recognize China’s illegal claims.”
A challenge to Taiwan’s sovereignty
Taiwan has said that the map is “a serious challenge to its sovereignty” and will “continue to defend its rights and interests.”
China defends map
China has defended the map, saying it is a “standard map” used for “internal purposes.” However, many countries, including the United States, Japan, and Australia, disagree.
The United States take on the map
The United States has said the map is “a serious challenge to the rules-based order” and will “continue to work with its allies and partners to uphold the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.”
India’s long-standing border issue with China
The dispute has led to several armed clashes between India and China, the most serious of which was the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The war ended with a Chinese victory, but the dispute has never been resolved.
In recent years, there have been increasing tensions along the India-China border. In 2020, there was a major military standoff in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. The standoff lasted for several months and resulted in the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers.
The India-China border dispute is a significant source of tension between the two countries. It is a complex issue with no easy solution. However, India and China need to find a way to resolve the dispute to avoid further conflict peacefully.
There are growing tensions in the South China Sea due to China’s new map being rejected. Natural resources are abundant in the South China Sea, which serves as a strategic waterway. China’s increasingly assertive territorial claims have exacerbated tensions in the South China Sea. Rejecting China’s new map reminds us how important it is to uphold international law and rule-based order in the South China Sea.
