MANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) rejects China’s new map depicting the 10-dash lines on the South China Sea after the same map appeared in the country’s 2023 edition of its so-called “standard map” issued by its Ministry of Natural Resources on August 28, 2023.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the 2023 edition map is China’s attempt “to legitimize purported sovereignty and jurisdiction over Philippine features and maritime zones has no basis under international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."
The DFA reiterated that the 2016 Arbitral Award invalidated the claims of China over areas in the West Philippine Sea and the nine-dash line, saying these are contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
"The 2016 Arbitral Award invalidated the nine-dashed line. It categorically stated that 'maritime areas of the South China Sea encompassed by the relevant part of the ‘nine-dash line’ are contrary to the Convention and without lawful effect to the extent that they exceed the geographic and substantive limits of China’s maritime entitlements under the Convention,'" the DFA said.
The Department added that China should "act responsibly and abide by its obligations under UNCLOS and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award."
In response, Beijing has repeatedly ignored and dismissed the ruling, insisting it’s "undisputable” and “historical” claim over nearly the entire waters, while encroaching on territories of its neighbours like the Philippines.
In a press briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that "it is a routine practice in China’s exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law."
"We hope relevant sides can stay objective and calm, and refrain from over-interpreting the issue," Wang added.
The tenth dash has been placed near Taiwan, while the nine dashes in the new Chinese map are in the South China Sea.
According to media reports, the 2023 edition of China’s standard map also showed the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin plateau as part of its territory and skips Malaysian maritime areas in Sabah and Sarawak based on the New Map of Malaysia 1979, which elicited protests from the two countries.
In a statement, India's Foreign Ministry said China's claims "have no basis" and that "such steps by the Chinese side only complicate the resolution of the boundary question."
Malaysia, for its part, said the Chinese map "is in no way binding on Malaysia."
"The map, among other things, shows China's unilateral maritime claims (unilateral act) which skips Malaysian maritime areas in Sabah and Sarawak based on the New Map of Malaysia 1979," its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"As the Malaysian Government emphasized in relation to the South China Sea issue previously including the issue of maritime demarcation, Malaysia has consistently rejected the claims of sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of any foreign party over the maritime features or maritime areas of our country based on the New Map of Malaysia 1979," it added.
The Malaysian Government reiterated that it 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.
