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Some Filipinos have started a Change.Org petition to urge Google Maps “to remove from its maps service a Chinese reference to the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea,” reports Janvic Mateo in The Philippine Star.
The report noted: “The petition pointed out that Google Maps has identified the shoal, located off the coast of Zambales, as part of China’s Zhongsha Islands — a group of submerged reefs and shoals in the area being claimed by several countries, including the Philippines. Panatag Shoal is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).”
To double-check this, we typed “Zhongsha Islands” in Google Maps and, indeed, were shown a map featuring the Panatag Shoal.
As the petition’s intro read, “Google Maps showing this is part of Zhongsha island chain gives credence to what is plainly a territory grab that peace loving nations should stand against.”
As of early Mon, Jul 13, the petition had gotten 1,167 signatures.
Photo: Google Maps screengrab
