China’s sharp practice on expansionism of its territories has unveiled its itch for grabbing lands from its neighbours. It’s appetency for land has resulted in diplomatic approaches and has installed bones of contention on the grounds of divisive territorial dispute. It has been claiming maritime territory and islands within the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of other countries in the South China Sea.
As per a report in WION, after Russian officials posted a video of 160th-anniversary celebrations over the founding of Vladivostok on Weibo, Chinese officials quickly picked a bone with them by claiming that Vladivostok used to be Chinese territory in the 19th century.
The report adds that Chinese officials responded to the Russian video by claiming that Vladivostok, the capital of Primorsky Krai, used to be the Qing dynasty’s Manchurian homeland named Haishenwai but was annexed by Russia in 1860 after China’s second opium war defeat.
Shen Shiwei, a journalist working with the state-owned broadcaster CGTN, tweeted: “This “tweet” of #Russian embassy to #China isn’t so welcome on Weibo. The history of Vladivostok (literally ‘Ruler of the East’) is from 1860 when Russia built a military harbour. But the city was Haishenwai as Chinese land before Russia annexed it via unequal Treaty of Beijing.”
Old Chinese dynasties- Ming, Qing, and Yuan are at the root of their unsustainable claims. After World War II ended, the world progressed beyond expansionism but Beijing doesn’t seem to recognize that.
Russia took charge of the second opium war, following China ‘s defeat. Under a treaty concluded in 1860. China ceded the territory to Russia. Since then, Vladivostok has lawfully belonged to Russia.
Beijing has been strategically renaming the disputed borders with Chinese names. China claims at least 160,000 sq km of Russia’s land despite signing several agreements. Vladivostok is just a thin end of the wedge.
China is pushing its borders – and is attempting to encroach land in at least 21 countries, by transgressing history, disagreeing with treaties and distorting rules
China has border disputes with 18 countries, including Brunei, Tajikistan, India, North Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia, Mongolia, South Korea, and the Philippines. It claims territories based on historical precedent dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. – (inputs from WION)
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