New Delhi - On August 28, the Chinese government unveiled the "2023 edition of the standard map of China," reiterating its territorial claims by depicting the complete State of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region as part of its sovereign territory.

The Ministry of Natural Resources released the 2023 map, which maintains the established territorial assertions along China's western borders and the contentious nine-dash line encompassing the entire South China Sea, consistent with previous editions. Furthermore, a symbolic "tenth dash" continues to be present east of Taiwan, underscoring Beijing's persistent claims over the island.

This recent map release follows an April announcement by Beijing to "standardize" the names of 11 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, including a town in proximity to the capital, Itanagar. This move, the third of its kind renaming places in the region, was widely perceived as a response to India's activities ahead of the G-20 summit, an event that China had opposed. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to participate in the September 9-10 summit in New Delhi.

The 2023 standard map of China was introduced during what is being termed "National Mapping Awareness Publicity Week" in the country, as reported by state media. In addition to the public release of this map, the Ministry of Natural Resources is also poised to unveil "digital maps and navigation and positioning" tools for applications spanning diverse fields, such as "location-based services, precision agriculture, platform economy, and intelligent connected vehicles."

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Law of Surveying and Mapping of the People's Republic of China, enacted to enhance the management of surveying and mapping activities. This law aims to bolster various facets of national development, including the economy, defense, and societal progress.

Under the leadership of President Xi, Beijing has adopted a more stringent approach to managing border regions. In 2022, a new border law was enacted, designating responsibilities for civilian and military authorities to safeguard national sovereignty. The act of renaming places aligns with Article 7 of this law, which emphasizes the promotion of border education across government levels. Article 22 underscores the Chinese military's obligation to conduct border drills and to effectively prevent and counteract what it defines as "invasions, encroachments, and provocations."