Maps wrongly presented the Senkaku Islands etc. - China ordered a Japanese company to dispose of its maps

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

中国 尖閣諸島などの記載に“違反” 日本企業に地図廃棄命じる

1月31日 4時14分

中国当局は、国内で配布された地図について調査を行い、自国の領土だと主張する沖縄県の尖閣諸島などの記載をめぐって違反があったとして、日本企業にも地図の廃棄を命じたと発表しました。

中国当局は、国内で配布された地図などで表記に問題があるものについて、去年、調査を行い、罰金や地図の廃棄などの処分を行った８社の事例を発表しました。

このうち、生活雑貨などを販売する日本のブランド「無印良品」の店舗が配布したカタログの地図について、地図の管理条例に違反していたとして廃棄を命じたとしています。

具体的な違反として、中国が自国の領土だと主張する沖縄県の尖閣諸島や、領有権を主張する南シナ海の島々が記載されていなかったほか、台湾について誤った表記があることなどを挙げています。

また、ほかの中国企業７社についても同様の違反があったとして罰金などが命じられました。

無印良品のブランドを展開する良品計画によりますと、地図は、世界各国での店舗展開を紹介するための簡単なものだったということですが、去年１０月、当局の指示を受けて中国で配布するものについては廃棄などの対応をとったということです。

中国では、地図のほかにも、ホームページなどで台湾を国家のように扱っているなどとして、今月、ホテルや航空会社など複数の欧米企業が修正と謝罪を求められていて、中国当局は、外国企業に対しても領土や主権についての主張を受け入れるよう対応を強めています。

My translation

The Chinese authority investigated the maps that were distributed in the country and assumed that there was a violation concerning the recording of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa-ken,  insisting  that they were the territory of its country, and announced that it had order a Japanese company to dispose of the map .

The Chinese authority last year investigated transcription problems in maps distributed in the country and announced that there were 8 punishment cases with a fine and the disposal of the maps.

Among them was Muji, a Japanese brand store which sold living miscellaneous goods. It had violated  management regulations in its catalog maps that were used to show shop locations, and was ordered to dispose of them.

The wrong transcription mentioned was about the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa-ken, China had insisted that they were its territory, also that some islands in the South China Sea where China had a possession right weren't mentioned in the map, and that Taiwan was wrongly recorded.

Also, other 7 Chinese enterprises likewise were being assumed to have made a violation and a fine was ordered.

According to Muji which developed the brand for generic quality goods, the maps were something to introduce its store developments in all countries in a simple manner. It was said that in about October of last year they received instructions from the authority that were linked to things they distributed in China and it meant that they had to take action such as to dispose of the maps.

In China, in addition to maps,  on the web site Taiwan was being regarded as a state, as such some hotel and airline companies of several European and American enterprises this month were asked to make correction and  apologies. The Chinese authority was strengthening its reaction to matters that were linked to territory and sovereignty reasoning accepted by foreign companies.

   It seems that China is tightening its control in the business activities of foreign companies over sovereignty related matters.