South China Sea map depicting China’s “nine-dash line.” INQUIRER.net stock photo
Vietnam has taken the fight over the territorial dispute with China to smartphones and apps.
The Vietnamese government announced on Friday, Nov. 8, that all Chinese-made gadgets, be it smartphones or car GPS navigation devices, will be confiscated if these show China’s “nine-dash line” claim over the West Philippine Sea and surrounding areas.
Vietnam’s customs officials will be confiscating said gadgets, specifically those of Chinese companies Huawei and Xiaomi, to stop “violations of Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty,” as per Vietnam’s state-owned media company VTC via Taiwan News, Nov. 11.
Anti-smuggling and investigation head Nguyen Hung Anh also ordered the inspection of all gadgets coming from China to check if they have the pre-installed maps and navigation apps showing China’s nine-dash line, as per Vietnamese broadsheet Tuoi Tre via Bloomberg, Nov. 8.
Last week, Vietnam Customs Head Nguyen Van Can said they seized all seven car models of Chinese company Hanteng Autos for using the controversial map, as per report.
Vietnam last month banned the animated film “Abominable” from its theaters for a scene involving a map depicting Beijing’s claims in the disputed territories. Ian Biong/JB
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