Disputes about maritime territory are ongoing problems between China and it's neighbors. Who's island is who's? Who's fishing where? China has decided to put it's foot down by drawing a big ol' "THIS IS OURS" all over these territories; in the form of dotted lines on it's new passports. The new Chinese passports that are currently being issued in Beijing show the map of China including territories that are being disputed about in the South China Sea and Himalayan land. It even included peices of land that are not claimed by China, but by other countries. India is furious and Vietnam is refusing to stamp passports, insisting to post stamps for travellers on different peices of paper.The Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia are other countries that are very unhappy about this map (that is drawn on page 8 of the passport) because it was done so silently and secretly. They say that it is not part of international standards that passports must meet. "But it offers a glimpse into the tensions sparked by China's growing heft both economically and military, as well as its increasingly assertive attitude toward territories it has long claimed as its own. " (Larano, Muoi, Thu, 2012) According to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Sneaky, sneaky China.
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