After the international Hague Tribunal rebuked China’s claim to the South China Sea, a website, completed with historical maps, was launched by the Chinese government on Wednesday for defending Beijing’s position.
Photo: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / DigitalGlobe
After the international Hague Tribunal rebuked China’s claim to the South China Sea, a website, completed with historical maps, was launched by the Chinese government on Wednesday for defending Beijing’s position.
The website, featuring ten sections that contain news, a timeline of events, law and regulation, development and management, expert opinion, historical archives, photos, videos, a Q&A and other information, is operated by China’s National Marine Data and Information Service.
“The South China Sea has drawn huge attention, but some information online is not accurate. We hope that this website will enable domestic and overseas people to better understand it and learn about the truth behind the ‘dispute’ over it,” an official of China’s State Oceanic Administration (SOA) that launched the site, Zhang Haiwen, said.
Zhang noted that along with archives and maps, the site also features analyses and articles, based on expert research of thousands of maps. According to the official, the information must pass an expert panel review and be “comprehensive, authoritative, detailed and accurate,” according to the expertise of the SOA, before to be published on the website.
“The website is founded with the aim of positively publicizing our policies, claims, historical proof, legal basis and international cooperation while serving as a reliable channel for domestic and overseas government departments, research groups and individuals to learn about the South China Sea,” SOA spokesperson Shi Qingfeng said.
