Beijing, Oct. 23: An online mapping service launched by China to rival Google Earth shows Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of China, in what is being seen as the latest move by Beijing to assert its claim over the Indian territory.
The Map World displayed on the Internet in C
hinese language, which is already being used in I-phone and by the mobile and Internet users here, shows Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as “southern Tibet”, as part of China.
The map makes no specific mention of southern Tibet but its borders cover up to Arunachal Pradesh, said the Indian officials here who studied the map.
Also Aksai Chin, which India asserts as part of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, has been included in the map as part of the Chinese Xinjiang province.
Indian observers view it as another move by China to assert its claim over the Indian territory.
The map, however, also displays the Line of Control (LoC), acknowledging both sides of Kashmir. It recognises the Northern Areas of Gilgit and Baltistan as part of the “Pakistan-controlled” Kashmir. Barring the two claims on Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin, Indian officials say the map contained no new territorial claims.
The map already created ripples recently when some I-phone users here raised objections over the use of Chinese language to identify the places.