Former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Naravane (retd) took a subtle jab at China by sharing a map on X (formerly Twitter) that humorously depicted China’s territories. The map outlined several regions as ‘occupied’ areas, including Ladakh and Tibet.
This action followed China’s release of its 2023 edition of the “standard map of China” on August 28, which included disputed regions such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, Arunachal Pradesh, and Aksai Chin as Chinese territories. India promptly rejected this map, lodged a strong protest with Beijing, and asserted that such actions only complicated efforts to resolve the boundary question.
Several ASEAN member countries, including Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, also reacted strongly to China’s territorial claims and its “standard map.” These countries have been advocating for a binding code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea due to China’s persistent efforts to assert its expansive claims over the region.
Notably, on August 8, General Naravane, along with former Navy Chief Karambir Singh and former Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, visited Taipei, Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway region. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen delivered the opening address at the Ketagalan Forum’s 2023 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue event during this visit.
China responded by expressing its firm opposition to official interactions between Taiwan and countries with diplomatic relations with China. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, stated that China hoped these countries would adhere to the one-China principle, prudently handle Taiwan-related issues, and avoid military and security cooperation with Taiwan.
The visit to Taipei by Indian officials raised speculations about India’s stance on Chinese aggression towards Taiwan. India and China have experienced strained relations since the eastern Ladakh border dispute began in May 2020. While disengagement efforts have occurred in some areas, troops from both countries continue to confront each other at certain friction points in eastern Ladakh.
India has consistently emphasized that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is crucial for normalizing overall relations. It’s important to note that India adheres to the ‘One China policy’ and does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China defended its release of the new “standard map” on August 30, characterizing it as a routine practice in accordance with its laws. China urged India to maintain objectivity, stay calm, and avoid over-interpreting the issue.
