Cartographic manipulation has emerged as a key tool in China’s assertion of symbolic sovereignty in the South China Sea. By renaming nearly 100 maritime features, Beijing seeks to reinforce its territorial claims beyond accepted norms.
The recent clashes at Scarborough Shoal, involving water cannons, collisions, and injuries to Philippine sailors, reveal that these actions are deliberately expansionist rather than defensive. Adding to tensions, China has declared the shoal a protected marine area, restricting Philippine access under the guise of conservation.
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