China releases new edition of standard map, lays claim on Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin region

China on Monday formally unveiled the version of its standard map for 2023 that includes the disputed territories, such as its claims to Arunachal Pradesh, the Aksai Chin region, Taiwan, and the South China Sea. India has repeatedly said that the state of Arunachal Pradesh has “always been” and will “always be” an integral part of the country. “The 2023 edition of China’s standard map was officially released on Monday and launched on the website of the standard map service hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources,” state-run Global Times said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“This map is compiled based on the drawing method of the national boundaries of China and various countries in the world,” the post added. The map also displayed by the Global Times showed Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as South Tibet, and Aksai Chin occupied by it in the 1962 war. The map also incorporated China’s claims over the estranged island of Taiwan and the nine-dash line claiming a large part of the South China Sea. China claims Taiwan as part of its mainland and its integration with the mainland is part of a vowed objective of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims over the South China Sea areas. With inputs from agencies