Jakarta (Indonesia), September 7 (ANI): In the 2023 edition of the so-called “standard map” of China, Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said that there are authorities looking into the situation.
On August 28, China released the 2023 edition of its “Standard Map,” which includes the country’s claims to the nine-point line, and thus claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei all have claims over the South China Sea areas.
When asked to comment on the so-called “standard map” released by China, which claims the South China Sea and Indian territory as well, the minister told ANI: “I think there are authorities looking into the situation.”
On August 31, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed that the drawing of territorial lines, including the 2023 version of the standard map of China, should be in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Indonesian news agency Antara reported.
On August 28, China released the 2023 edition of its “Standard Map,” which includes the country’s claims to the nine-point line, and thus claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei all have claims over the South China Sea areas.
India lodged a strong protest against China, rejecting Beijing’s claims in the so-called “standard map”, saying it had no basis for claiming India’s territory.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that such steps from the Chinese side will only complicate the resolution of the border issue.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said China had an “old habit” of claiming territory that did not belong to it. He rejected Beijing’s “ridiculous claims” and said that “the mapping does not mean anything.”
“China has mapped areas (not) of their own. (It’s) an old habit. Just by mapping parts of India … it doesn’t change anything,” Jaishankar said, adding: “Our government is very clear about what our lands are. Making absurd claims does not make other people’s land your own.”
The United States also rejected Beijing’s “illegal maritime claims” and said China’s expansionist and illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea contravened international law.
“We note that the national map recently issued by the People’s Republic of China has sparked a wave of protests from countries that reject the territorial and maritime claims depicted on it. With regard to the dashed lines in the South China Sea depicted on the new map, like many countries, we reject the illegal maritime claims shown on that map and we call on the People’s Republic of China to bring its maritime claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere into conformity with the International Law of the Sea, as set forth in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.” Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, said at a regular press briefing on Tuesday.
On August 28, China released the 2023 edition of its “Standard Map,” which includes the country’s claims to the nine-point line, and thus claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei all have claims over the South China Sea areas.
However, in an attempt to appear unfazed, Beijing described its publication of the so-called “standard map” as a “routine exercise” and asked the countries concerned to view it “in an objective and rational light”.
“China’s position on the South China Sea is consistent and clear. China’s relevant authorities routinely publish standard maps of various types every year, aiming to make standard maps available to all sectors of society and to raise public awareness of the standardized use of maps,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. At a recent press conference.
“We hope relevant parties can look at the matter objectively and rationally,” he added. (that I)
