Singapore’s primary Chinese language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that the name “Israel” no longer appears on major Chinese online electronic maps such as Baidu Maps and AMap. Israel does still appear if the user specifically searches for the word “Israel.” All other nations in the region still have their names correctly displayed.
At a press conference of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a reporter asked about the reason behind this change in the apps’ behavior, inquiring whether Beijing had required the apps to remove Israel. The spokesperson of the Ministry responded that “the relevant country is clearly marked on the standard map issued by the Chinese competent authorities.” He also stated that the Chinese position on the Palestinian-Israeli situation is: “China has always condemned and opposed all acts that harm civilians and violated international law, and has always been committed to working with the international community to promote ceasefires, ensure the safety of civilians, improve humanitarian assistance, and prevent serious humanitarian disasters.”
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, October 31, 2023
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20231031-1446946