China launched a new website to strongly defend its stance over the South China Sea after an international tribunal ruling over the disputed area.
The said website on South China Sea is complete with its historical maps to assert China’s claims.
The July 12 international tribunal court ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration struck down of China’s nine-dash line claims over South China Sea based on historical rights and upheld the claims of the Philippines in sections of the South China Sea.
China has been claiming almost all of the South China Sea, where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the disputed areas.
China slams and boycotted the tribunal ruling and rejected its verdict, saying it was illegally constituted.
The Chinese language website that is run by China’s National Marine Data & Information Service has 10 sections that cover basic information news, historical archives, including development and management, expert opinion, law and regulations, with a timeline of major events, pictures and videos and even Q&A.
“The South China Sea has drawn huge attention, but some information online is not accurate,” said Zhang Haiwen, an official of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) which launched the website. Asia Times reports.
“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.”
State-run Xinhua news agency reported, according to Zhang, the website also contains exclusive analysis and expository articles based on experts’ research of thousands of maps.
Zhang also stated that a map that is often used by Vietnam proving that it owned the Xisha Islands was actually pieced together by two maps, which already been obtained by the experts and might be used to prove the country’s claim.
The SOA said that the information on the website must first be reviewed by an expert panel and that could be “comprehensive, authoritative, detailed and accurate”.
The website has six domain names now.
“The website is founded with the aim of positively publicising 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.
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