Internet users in China on Tuesday spotted that online digital maps provided by Baidu and Alibaba do not contain the name Israel when users hover over the region’s map on the map apps. The Chinese language online maps of the region in the Baidu app demarcate the internationally recognized borders of Israel, as well as the Palestinian territories while also naming key cities, but don’t clearly identify the country by name, the Wall Street Journal said in a report.
China has REMOVED ISRAEL from its online maps, including Baidu and Alibaba! pic.twitter.com/UwcD86N3Pz— Hend F Q (@LadyVelvet_HFQ) October 31, 2023
The Wall Street Journal report also pointed out that the same anomaly was spotted in online maps produced by Alibaba’s Amap. Smaller nations like Luxembourg are clearly marked but Israel has not found a mention. The report further added that the ‘omissions’ or the ‘anomalies’ are being discussed by Chinese social media users on state-controlled social media sites.
China granted de jure recognition to Israel on March 1, 1949 and Israel recognised the People’s Republic of China on January 8, 1950.
The omission, if planned, would be reflective of China’s ambiguous position of issues affecting West Asia and the Arab World. Though it has emerged as a key player by facilitating a thaw in ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, there are several key issues which Chinese President Xi Jinping and his foreign policy are yet to address, with Palestine being one of them.
China is known to have been meticulous about maps, mostly for its own benefit, but it has also used maps to spread false information and make false claims. Its incorrect depiction of maps has led to diplomatic tussles with neighbours India, Taiwan, Philippines and Japan and several other neighbours.
A separate report by the Times of India on perception of Jews among Chinese citizens pointed out a marginal rise of antisemitic sentiments on Chinese social media.
The Times of India report said that the term “anti-Jew” witnessed a significant surge in searches and mentions on the Chinese platform WeChat.
The Chinese government over the years has reacted sharply and levied fines over maps published elsewhere online, claiming them to be erroneous if they failed to strictly adhere to Beijing’s territorial claims. Websites associated with the travel and tourism industry have been fined for leaving off the nine-dotted line stretching around the South China Sea that isn’t internationally recognized.