The map, featuring a U-shaped line, claims roughly 90 percent of the South China Sea, a contentious region where over 3 trillion dollars in trade occurs annually.
China maintains that its claims are based on historical maps but has not clarified if there are any new territorial claims. The new map, wider than a previous version submitted to the un in 2009, features a line with an additional 10th dash that includes Taiwan.
The Philippines has urged China to respect international law and the 2016 ruling which refuted the legitimacy of the line. Malaysia has lodged an official diplomatic protest, and Taiwan asserted its independent status, despite its inclusion in the map. Vietnam dismissed China’s claims as baseless and in breach of Vietnamese and international law. The situation remains complex and sensitive, with concerns mounting over potential escalations in the region.
