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China's Map World asserts Arunachal to be its part
By siliconindia
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Monday, 25 October 2010, 19:33 IST
Beijing: The tug of war over the state of Arunachal Pradesh between India and China continues to stir the hornet's nest. And here is the latest update on that. China, in its bid to rival Google Earth, has launched an online mapping service called 'Map World'. The mapping service shows Arunachal Pradesh to fall under the Chinese territory.
The map displays Arunachal Pradesh to be part of the southern Tibet region of China, with the Sino-Indian border being shifted south to northern Assam. Even the forever in dispute Aksai Chin in Kashmir is shown as a part of northwest China.
The new online mapping service is very much in the lines of Google Earth and Google Maps and offers both virtual and satellite maps. Map World's services are available in Chinese language.
This is seen as part of China's continuous move to claim Arunachal Pradesh as its own. In the past we have seen instances where the Chinese government had refused to give visa to officers travelling to China who were from Arunachal Pradesh. China claimed they were Chinese citizens and don't need visa.
More recently, the Apple iPhone 4's maps' also showed Arunachal Pradesh to be part of China.
Speaking about the Map World services, Min Yiren, Deputy Director, State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) said, "All the mapping information has been permitted by the SBSM and related national security departments." The country has firewalled the uncertified maps.
Service providers need to apply for licenses so as to offer the online mapping services. These companies also need to maintain servers in China to store map data.
It has been reported that work on the online mapping service had been going on for the past two years. The site will get an update of the geological data twice a year. This against every two minute satellite updation by Google Earth.
Whether it stands in face of Google Earth or not? This will be known with passage of time. But what is of concern here to us Indians is how and when will this menace of China claiming parts of India as its own stop?