“Authorities are studying situation:” Indonesia Defence Minister on China’s ‘standard map’ claims 

Jakarta [Indonesia], September 7 (ANI): On the 2023 edition of the so-called “standard map” of China, Indonesia Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto said that there are authorities studying the situation.

China, on August 28, released the 2023 edition of its “standard map”, incorporating the country’s claims over the nine-dash line, thereby laying claim to a large part of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have all claims over the South China Sea areas.

On being asked to comment on the so-called “standard map” released by China, claiming the South China Sea and Indian territories as well, the minister told ANI, “I think there are authorities that are studying the situation.”

On August 31, the Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that the drawing of territorial lines, including the 2023 Edition of the Standard Map of China, must be in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 the Indonesian News Agency Antara reported 

China, on August 28, released the 2023 edition of its “standard map”, incorporating the country’s claims over the nine-dash line, thereby laying claim to a large part of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have all claims over the South China Sea areas.

India had lodged a strong protest against China, rejecting claims made by Beijing in the so-called “standard map” and saying they have no basis to claim India’s territory.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said such steps from the Chinese side would only complicate the resolution of the boundary question.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it is an “old habit” of China to stake claim on territories that do not belong to them. He dismissed Beijing’s “absurd claims” and said “putting out a map does not mean anything.”

“China has put out maps with territories (that are) not theirs. (It is an) old habit. Just by putting out maps with parts of India… this doesn’t change in anything,” Jaishankar said, adding, “Our government is very clear about what our territories are. Making absurd claims does not make other people’s territories yours,” Jaishankar said.

The United States also rejected the ‘unlawful maritime claims’ made by Beijing and said that China’s expansive and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law.

“We note that the PRC recently released national map has elicited a wave of protests from countries that reject the territorial and maritime claims depicted on it. With respect to the dashed lines in the South China Sea depicted on the new map, like many countries, we reject the unlawful maritime claims reflected on that map and call on the PRC to comport its maritime claims in the South China Sea and elsewhere with the International Law of the Sea, as reflected in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the Principal Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Vedant Patel said in a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

China, on August 28, released the 2023 edition of its “standard map”, incorporating the country’s claims over the nine-dash line, thereby laying claim to a large part of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have all claims over the South China Sea areas.

However, in an attempt to appear unfazed, Beijing termed its publication of the so-called “standard map” as a ‘routine practice’ and asked the concerned nations to view it in an “objective and rational light”.

“China’s position on the South China Sea is consistent and clear. The competent authorities of China routinely publish standard maps of various types every year, which aims to make standard maps available to all sectors of society and raise public awareness of the standardized use of maps,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a press briefing recently.

“We hope parties concerned can view it in an objective and in a rational light,” he said.