— Beijing has clarified that Israel remains marked on official maps issued by Chinese authorities after questions emerged over why the country’s name was not visible on online maps provided by two major Chinese companies.
Both names come up in word searches on the mobile versions of the platforms, which are not-state owned but operate in China’s heavily moderated online environment and are as ubiquitous as Google or Apple maps are outside the country. In recent years, the world’s second largest economy has pushed international companies to apologize and retract maps that do not show the self-ruling democracy of Taiwan as part of Chinese territory. It has also received backlash from neighboring countries that have accused Beijing of using cartography to legitimize disputed claims.
Despite receiving blowback from Israeli officials for its failure to condemn Hamas, Beijing has attempted to present itself as a potential peacemaker in the latest conflict, dispatching its special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, for a tour in the region to promote peace talks.