China’s Policies: Cartographic Expansion

China’s cartographic expansion refers to its strategic use of maps to assert territorial claims over disputed regions.

South China Sea
- China has long used the “Nine-Dash Line” to claim nearly 90% of the South China Sea, a region rich in natural resources and a major global shipping route.
- Despite international rulings such as the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration’s verdict, which invalidated China’s claims, Chinese maps continue to show the disputed waters as part of its territory.
- This cartographic aggression has caused tensions with Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons

India-China Border:
- Since the 1950s, China has published maps showing Aksai Chin as part of its territory, despite the region being part of India’s Jammu & Kashmir.
- The 2023 release of new Chinese maps added areas of Arunachal Pradesh and other disputed regions as Chinese territory, which India strongly protested.
- These cartographic claims have fueled border conflicts, such as the 1962 Sino-Indian war and the ongoing standoff in eastern Ladakh.
Bhutan and Nepal
- In Bhutan, China has attempted to expand its claims through cartographic means in areas like Doklam, triggering tensions in the region.
- In Nepal, maps showing disputed border areas have also been published, raising concerns in Kathmandu.
Japan
- Repeated clashes between China and Japan have occurred over the Senkaku islands in Tokyo, the Diaoyu islands in Beijing and the Tiaoyutai islands in Taiwan, ever since evidence of oil reserves emerged in these regions in the 1970s.

It strengthens domestic narratives of historical entitlement.
It signals to the international community that China will not compromise on its territorial ambitions, while also attempting to shape global perceptions of the disputed areas.
It provides a foundation for more assertive actions, such as infrastructure development and military posturing in disputed territories.