Usage of maps on Chinese website

The use of maps on websites operated in China is subject to several regulations. Before using a map on their Chinese website, Western companies should ensure that it does not violate Chinese laws. In the worst case, this could lead to the website being shut down or even the revocation of the Chinese business license.

The conflict between China and Taiwan, whether Taiwan is an independent country or a province of China, is relatively well known. The fact that there are also disputed borders with India and that Chinese maps even use a completely different geodetic reference system are equally important issues to be aware of when using maps on a website in China.

The national borders of China

For most countries, looking at an up-to-date world map, it is fairly easy to find out where the borders with neighboring countries are. However, this is more complicated with China's national borders, because China is in ongoing territorial conflicts with several countries. Therefore, when using a map on your website, it is important to ensure that it reflects China's position on the territorial disputes and that the country's border is drawn accordingly. Otherwise, you can be accused of wanting to endanger the national security of China, which can have far-reaching consequences. Especially during the PSB filing, the responsible clerk will take a close look at any maps on your website. If a violation of Chinese law is found, you will be forced to take down your website until any issues have been corrected.

Source: https://www.zrzyst.cn/gjbtdtzs/730.jhtml (As of: July 2023)

In the above example, you can see China's borders from the perspective of the Chinese government on the left, and a map on the right that shows the borders incorrectly. Highlighted in red are five key points, which you need to consider when using a map of China on your Chinese website:

1. Senkaku Islands or Diaoyu Islands

The affiliation of these islands is an ongoing conflict between China and Japan - as well as Japan and Taiwan. Accordingly, you must ensure that your map reflects that these islands belong to the People's Republic of China. In particular, this also means that the name of the island group on your map is Diaoyu Islands, because the name Senkaku Islands is how they are known in Japan.

2. Taiwan

The conflict that is probably best known in the West: From China's point of view, Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China because China does not recognize Taiwan's sovereignty. You are therefore not allowed to list Taiwan as an independent country. Instead, it must be listed as a province of China.

3. South China Sea Islands

The South China Sea includes some 280 islands whose ownership is disputed between the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries in the region. If your map on the Chinese website includes the South China Sea in such detail, the islands must be part of the People's Republic of China.

4. Arunachal Pradesh or South Tibet

Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state whose territory is claimed by both India and the People's Republic of China. In China, the area is called South Tibet. Accordingly, on Chinese maps, the area must be within China's borders and labeled as South Tibet.

5. Aksai Chin

Aksai Chin is also an area between China and India, claimed by both. The national borders of China must therefore include this area.

Map services of third parties

The particularities described above when displaying the national border of China are mostly relevant for you if you have created a static map of China yourself or downloaded one online. But even if you are using a third-party map service, you may want to check that the borders are shown correctly, and you may also encounter other problems with the service in China. Because most western map services, such as Google Maps and OpenStreetMap, are outright blocked by the Chinese Firewall.

On the one hand, the blockage of many map services in China is due to the fact that these services do not display the national borders correctly from China's point of view or label the affected areas as disputed. On the other hand, it is due to very strict laws that largely prohibit the collection of geographical data and the creation of associated maps in China. The basis for this is primarily the Surveying and Mapping Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国测绘法). Only a few Chinese companies have permission to create maps of mainland China. Foreign companies are banned across the board from operating their map services in China.

It is also important to note that maps from Chinese service providers such as Baidu Maps or Gaode are never 100 % accurate. While the WGS-84 geodetic reference system is commonly used in the West, which can be used to create very accurate maps based on geographic data, Chinese maps are using the GCJ-02 system. This system takes geographic data, creates an associated map with it and distorts the result, which means that points on the map are usually 50 to 500 meters away from their actual position. The fact that using GJC-02 results in inaccurate maps is by no means a mistake, but deliberately wanted by the Chinese state to increase national security.

What does this mean for your Chinese website? If you are currently using a map service and would like to continue integrating the map in China via a third-party provider, you must first switch to a corresponding service in China. If you display additional information on the map, such as your worldwide locations, you will probably need to convert your coordinates from WGS-84 to GCJ-02.

Would you like further advice?

With several years of experience in hosting a wide variety of websites, web shops and web applications in China, including booking platforms or online expos, weber.cloud China will be happy to help you with your questions. Our experts can advise you on operating your website in China and all related topics. If you have more in-depth legal questions, we can also put you in touch with our English-speaking partner lawyers in China. Of course, we can also support you with all questions regarding hosting in China and offer you the right solution to deliver your website to China with high performance.

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