Chinese customs officials seize map showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of India

Customs officials in China have seized a large consignment of world maps for export showing Arunachal Pradesh as part of India, official media reported on Friday. China claims the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of South Tibet, which India has strongly rejected. India maintains that the state of Arunachal Pradesh is its integral and inseparable part.

As reported by the Chinese daily thepaper.cn, the map was marked as bedclothes wrapped around 300 export consignments by customs at Shanghai Pudong Airport. China passed a new regulation in 2019, making it mandatory for all maps printed and sold in the country to carry the official version of Chinese maps bearing China’s claims, including Arunachal Pradesh, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The map is the main form of representation of the national territory, which is grave for its political, scientific and legal importance, said the notice announcing the new testament. “The problematic maps will mislead the international community about China’s territory or even the people who are promoting it with the intentions behind it,” it said.