China has upset many countries in the Asia-Pacific region with its release of a new official map that lays claim to most of the South China Sea, as well as to contested parts of India and Russia, and official objections continue to mount. What is the map, and why is it upsetting people so much?

It seems significant, then, that Beijing chose to release the map on the heels of a late August meeting of the BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – and just before China is to participate in top-level meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Group of 20 rich and developing nations.

In releasing the map now, Beijing is widely seen as signaling it has no intention of backing down on any of its claims and is making sure that its positions are fresh in the minds of other countries in the region.

    • @TokenBoomer
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      1 year ago

      Yes. This could be considered a whataboutism. But that’s not always a bad thing. See here. Context matters. This article puts China in a negative light. I’m not defending China’s actions. I think it is inflammatory. But I also felt obligated to relay the hypocrisy of America.

      It might even be that the whataboutism serves a function in forcing the speakers to both recognize a common, underlying factor to both sides of the argument.

      • @Melco
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        1 year ago

        deleted by creator

        • @TokenBoomer
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          1 year ago

          The Independent published the article. They are based in the UK. It is in their interest as part of the capitalist hegemony, led by America to make China look bad (the enemy). I just pushed back against that narrative. It was not my intention to highjack the discussion. Also, I was the first to comment, so there was nothing to highjack at the time.

          • @Duamerthrax
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            351 year ago

            China is making China look bad.

            • @TokenBoomer
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              -281 year ago

              Then, how do you know about it?

              • @Duamerthrax
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                171 year ago

                Here’s China’s new map of their claimed territory from China’s own website.. For comparison, here’s one provided by Wikipedia with the Dark Green is claimed and controlled. The light green is claimed, but not controlled. The wiki map seems to be out of date anyway. It doesn’t included the claimed, but not controlled specs out to sea.

                This is also being talked about in all the news outlets of China’s neighbors. The Independent was not the first place I saw this news. China is making China look bad.

                • @TokenBoomer
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                  -51 year ago

                  OMG you are right. Just read several articles about it. I feel bad for finding it hilarious. Why provoke India? Talk about throwing around your weight,

          • @Melco
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            111 year ago

            deleted by creator

            • @TokenBoomer
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              -161 year ago

              They don’t pay us money silly. We get a bonus ration on our food card. Dependent on what the commissar deems acceptable, and what resources are available. Usually rice or bread, but never eggs. I miss eggs.