China's recent release of an official map depicting its territorial claims has sparked widespread rejection and criticism from several Asian countries. Four nations are rallying behind India's stance on the issue.
Vietnam, in particular, has firmly expressed its opposition to China's territorial assertions in the South China Sea, citing violations of its sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands as well as its jurisdiction over adjacent waters. The spokesperson for Vietnam's foreign affairs ministry, Pham Thu Hang, emphasised the invalidity of China's sovereignty and maritime claims based on the contentious nine-dotted line featured on the map, reported Bloomberg.
According to a statement published on Vietnam's government news website, Hang stated, "Vietnam resolutely opposes all China's claims in the South China Sea based on the dotted line."
This assertion was further supported by other nations, amplifying the call for a reconsideration of China's territorial stance. Notably, India expressed concerns over a specific part of the map that portrays sections of Arunachal Pradesh as being under China's control, rejecting this depiction. Similarly, the Philippines denounced China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, while Malaysia and Taiwan vehemently rejected Beijing's assertions as encroachments upon their sovereign territories.
In response to the mounting criticism, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin adopted a measured tone, urging "relevant sides can remain objective and calm and refrain from overinterpreting." Wang clarified that China released the map to provide an official reference for publishers, companies, and other entities, as navigating map usage often becomes contentious for foreign entities encountering Chinese regulations.
Central to the dispute is China's assertion of sovereignty over more than 80% of the South China Sea, a claim supported by a 1947 map that features a vague series of dashes known as the nine-dash line. This line extends down to a point approximately 1,100 miles south of Hainan Island. However, this claim has been met with strong resistance from other nations, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan. These countries maintain their claims over various parts of the same maritime area, leading to ongoing disagreements with China regarding the delineation of boundaries.