Chinese tech giants remove Israel from newly unveiled digital maps
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Beijing: Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Baidu are reported to have omitted the State of Israel from their recently unveiled digital maps, though the maps outline the internationally recognized borders without naming Israel.
This omission becomes even more intriguing considering the meticulous labelling of nations, even as diminutive as Luxembourg, on the digital cartography. Industry analysts speculate that this deliberate exclusion aligns with China's openly expressed support for the Palestinian cause, a stance dating back to the era of Mao Zedong.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning recently reiterated Beijing's commitment to a "just and lasting" resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, endorsing the widely recognized "two-state solution."
During a press briefing in Beijing, Mao emphasized China's consistent alignment with the positions of Arab states on the escalating Palestinian-Israeli tensions.
Alibaba and Baidu, both renowned for their global technological prowess, operate in diverse sectors such as e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and internet-related services. The decision to remove Israel from their digital maps is raising concerns globally, with experts interpreting it as a reflection of the Chinese government's foreign policy stance.