China on passports: Nothing here to see, folks
| Beijing
China said on Wednesday that people should not read too much into the placement of a new map in its passports that depicts claims to disputed maritime territory, after the United States聽said it would raise concerns with Beijing聽over the issue.
罢丑别听Philippines听补苍诲听Vietnam聽have condemned the new microchip-equipped passports, saying the map they incorporate violates their national sovereignty by marking disputed waters as Chinese territory.
India, which also claims two Himalayan regions shown as Chinese territory on the map, is responding by issuing visas stamped with its own version of the borders.
"The aim of聽China's new electronic passports is to strengthen its technological abilities and make it convenient for Chinese citizens to enter or leave the country," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.
"The issue of the maps in聽China's new passports should not be read too much into.聽China聽is willing to remain in touch with relevant countries and promote the healthy development of the exchange of people between聽China聽and the outside world."
State Department 蝉辫辞办别蝉飞辞尘补苍听Victoria Nuland聽said the United States had concerns about聽China's map causing "tension and anxiety" between countries in the聽South China聽Sea.
罢丑别听United States, which has urged聽China聽and its Southeast Asian neighbours to agree on a code of conduct as a first step toward reducing tensions over the聽South China聽Sea, will continue to accept the new Chinese passports because they meet the standards of a legal travel document.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
