Chinese Online Maps Omit Israel's Name Amidst Escalating Gaza Conflict

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Beijing has confirmed that Israel is still featured on official maps released by Chinese authorities, addressing concerns raised regarding the absence of the country's name on online maps offered by two leading Chinese companies.

Israel is conspicuously absent from the maps on popular mobile applications from the leading search platform Baidu and the Alibaba-backed Amap. Although the region clearly displays Israel's territory and the names of neighboring countries, the country itself remains unnamed. In contrast, countries like Cyprus, Lebanon, and Kuwait, which are similar in size or even smaller than Israel, are clearly labeled. Moreover, these maps do not feature a country name marker for "Palestine," which China officially recognized as a state in 1988 and includes on its official maps alongside Israel.

Both names appear in word searches on the mobile versions of the platforms, which operate within China's highly regulated online environment and are just as widespread as Google or Apple maps are internationally. "China and Israel maintain a regular diplomatic relationship... the Chinese authorities clearly indicate the relevant country on their official maps," stated Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin during a routine press briefing on Tuesday, in response to a query.

The absence of country name markers on the apps has raised concerns amid Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas, which was prompted by a territorial attack on October 7. It remains uncertain if this is a recent occurrence.

Baidu Maps spokesperson stated in response to CNN that in cases of limited space, certain territories' names or flags might not be displayed on their maps. However, users can easily locate the corresponding countries or areas on Baidu Maps by utilizing the search function. CNN has contacted Alibaba for their input as well.

China is renowned for its meticulous scrutiny of maps used globally in order to ensure accurate representation of its borders and territorial assertions.

In recent times, the world's second-largest economy has exerted pressure on international corporations to express regret and rectify maps that fail to depict Taiwan, an autonomously governed democracy, as an integral part of Chinese territory. Moreover, China has faced criticism from neighboring nations, asserting that Beijing employs cartography as a means to legitimize contested claims.

Treading a fine line

Following the lethal Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 individuals, predominantly innocent civilians, Israel has carried out extensive airstrikes and escalated ground operations in the Hamas-controlled region of Gaza. Estimates based on information provided by local authorities in the enclave under Hamas rule indicate that over 8,000 people have lost their lives, including roughly 3,000 children.

China has received backlash from Israel for its response, as it avoids mentioning Hamas directly but also refrains from explicitly condemning them. Instead, China calls for a ceasefire and emphasizes the importance of a two-state solution to create an independent Palestine as the primary solution to the ongoing conflict. This position aligns with China's longstanding political backing of the Palestinian cause.

China was among the early nations to acknowledge Palestine as an independent state in 1988 and established official diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992. Furthermore, China's official maps, visible in an online catalog of its standard maps services system, designate both Israel and Palestine. Despite not being a full member state of the United Nations, Palestine is acknowledged by over 100 countries.

Despite facing criticism from Israeli officials for not condemning Hamas, Beijing is seeking to position itself as a mediator in the ongoing conflict. To this end, its special envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, embarked on a tour of the region, aiming to facilitate peace talks. Over the past two weeks, Zhai has visited Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. It remains uncertain whether he will include Israel in his itinerary.

Beijing's increased involvement in the Middle East has coincided with a longstanding dominance of the region by the United States. As China is a relatively new player in this context, there are doubts among analysts regarding its ability to contribute to the resolution of the current conflict. Some speculate that China's diplomatic efforts could be motivated by a desire to align itself with the Arab world, whereas the US, seen as Beijing's primary geopolitical rival, has firmly supported Israel.

The conflict has ignited a heated discussion on China's heavily regulated social media, causing division between those who advocate for Israel's right to defend itself and various pro-Palestinian voices, leading to a rise in anti-Semitic sentiments. Reporting by Wayne Chang and Juliana Liu from CNN.