Palace: PHL embassy to verify China's new territorial map

The Philippine government wants to verify reports that China has published a new official map that included disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on government-run dzRB: “We’re aware of the report, which is why the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] will be asking our embassy in Beijing to verify that particular report before we make any further comment.” Earlier reports cited China’s state-run Xinhua news agency as saying China published a new official map that includes islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The Philippines and China are locked in a dispute over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, and over the Spratly Islands. In April last year, Philippine forces spotted Chinese fishermen gathering marine species from the Scarborough area but were blocked by Chinese ships before they could make arrests. The Philippines and China are among six claimants to the Spratlys, the other claimants being Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan. Also last year, China issued new chip-embedded passports bearing a Chinese map that includes disputed territories within China’s domain. This prompted the Philippines to refuse to stamp visas on the Chinese e-passports, and issued the visas on separate forms instead. — LBG, GMA News