Chinese authorities have unveiled a new map showing the totality of Beijing's territorial claims, leading to vocal concerns from both India and the Philippines.
The "new vertical atlas of China," issued by the Hunan Map Publishing House, differs from an earlier map in that it clearly shows disputed areas claimed by Beijing as part of Chinese territory, instead of showing them in a little box in a corner at the bottom.
The "new vertical atlas of China"
It includes China's declared maritime claims over the South China Sea, appearing to have extended the original nine-dash line to a 10-dash line, and showing China's longstanding belief in its suzerainty over the Spratlys and Paracels, the two main archipelagos of the South China Sea, which are contested to varying degrees by Vietnam, the Philippines and a number of other Southeast Asian nations.
It also counts Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province, as part of China, as well as showing the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is claimed by India and Beijing and was at the heart of a brief but bitter border war in 1962, as part of Tibet. Large chunks of Jammu and Kashmir are also included as part of China.
A worker checks on the new official map of China at a printing house in Changsha, Hunan Province
Chinese citizens can "fully, directly know the full map of China," wrote state paper the People's Daily.
"Readers won’t ever think again that China’s territory has primary and secondary claims," said the editor of the map press that published it.
Graphic from the Daily Mail
India’s foreign ministry dismissed the new map, saying cartographic depiction did not change the reality that Arunachal was part of India.
"The fact that Arunachal Pradesh in integral and inalienable part of India has been conveyed to Chinese authority at several occasions including at the very highest level," an Indian foreign ministry spokesman was quoted in the Hindustan Times.
Meanwhile, a former Filipino congressman and national security adviser warned China may be preparing to further violate the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with its new 10-dash line map.
"We face the danger of the Chinese navy (PLAN) patrolling our seas well within our EEZ and getting close to our territorial sea, with the Chinese navy commanders citing the newly minted map as their authority for violating in depth our EEZ," Roilo Golez said in the Philippine Star.
The original nine-dash line in the South China Sea
Despite the publication of the map, China President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that China is incapable of hegemony or militarism.
"Hegemony or militarism is not in the genes of the Chinese," Xi said. "China neither interferes in other countries' internal affairs nor imposes its will on others. It will never seek hegemony no matter how strong it may become. "
He was speaking at an event commemorating the 60th anniversary of Panchsheel - the five principles for lasting regional peace signed into existence by India, Myanmar (then Burma) and China in 1954 - that was also addressed by Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Myanmar President Thein Sein. Ansari is on a five day visit to China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, second from left, with Myanmar President Thein Sein, third from right, and Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, center.
Xi's speech to an international audience contrasted with nationalistic remarks quoted by state media, when he said China should bear in mind its history as "a victim of foreign aggression" and strengthen its frontier defenses on land and sea.
Those comments came at a national meeting held on Friday, official Xinhua news agency said.
The remarks underscore China's resolve amid testy territorial disputes with neighboring nations, which have accused Beijing of being increasingly aggressive in pressing its claims.
Xi told the Friday meeting that the "country's weakness in the past had allowed others to bully it", the report said.
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