China calls for calm amid objections to latest map
China has asked countries whose territories it claims as its own to remain "calm"following objections it has already received from them in the release of its 2023 standard map.
Wang Wenbin, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman, said concerned countries must "refrain from over-interpreting the issue" as China's standard map, which lays claim to parts of the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and India, is "a routine practice."
Wang said it was Beijing’s "exercise of sovereignty in accordance with law."
"On August 28, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China released the 2023 edition of the standard map… We hope relevant sides can stay objective and calm," he said in his regular press briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
Malaysia and India have already protested Beijing's release of the 2023 standard map of China, which features a 10-dash line—a line that signifies the scope of its territory—that includes Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin Plateau.
Meanwhile, the Philippine government has not released as of this writing its comment on the inclusion of the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea, in the 10-dash line.
"Malaysia does not recognize China's claims in the South China Sea, as outlined in the 'China Standard Map 2023 Edition' which covers Malaysia's maritime area," Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"We reject these claims as they have no basis. Such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary question," India's External Affairs Ministry said.
China had repeatedly said its claim on the entirety of the South China Sea has legal basis although its embassy in Manila has not yet provided any proof to such.
Meanwhile, the Philippines' and other countries' territorial claims over their respective EEZs are based on the provision of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which China ratified.