Google Maps, a free web mapping serviceapplication provided by Google, is providing incorrect information onVietnam ’s territorial boundaries.
Users whoaccess Google Maps can see the service that a part of Vietnam ’sterritory estimated at thousands of square kilometres is incorrectlymapped as part of China , said Do Viet Thi, deputy director of theMinistry of Natural Recourses and Environment’s Border Line Centre.
“It’s clear to see that the border line at the northern border fromDien Bien province to Mong Cai city of Quang Ninh province is in thewrong place,” he said.
“The degree of error is particularly noticeable at Lao Cai and Mong Caicities, with the border line between Vietnam and China being mappedincorrectly and encroaching on Vietnam ’s territory.”
Google’s mapping of the border line between the two countries also putmany Vietnamese border gates, such as Tan Thanh and Thanh Thuy, intoChinese territory, said Thi.
Thi said the border line between Vietnam and China in this area followsriver lines. In Lao Cai city, the border line runs along the Hong, NamThi, and Ba Ket rivers while the border line near Mong Cai city runsalong the Ka Long and Bac Luan rivers.
“There has been no change in the border line in this area since it wasmapped by the two countries in the late 19 th century,” said Thi.
Thi stressed that Google Maps was a free mapping service and did nothave any legal value, but it could cause misunderstandings among users.
Vietnam and China have completed land border demarcation and landmarkplanting along their border lines. The governments of the two countriessigned a protocol on border demarcation and landmark planting onNovember 18, 2009./.
Users whoaccess Google Maps can see the service that a part of Vietnam ’sterritory estimated at thousands of square kilometres is incorrectlymapped as part of China , said Do Viet Thi, deputy director of theMinistry of Natural Recourses and Environment’s Border Line Centre.
“It’s clear to see that the border line at the northern border fromDien Bien province to Mong Cai city of Quang Ninh province is in thewrong place,” he said.
“The degree of error is particularly noticeable at Lao Cai and Mong Caicities, with the border line between Vietnam and China being mappedincorrectly and encroaching on Vietnam ’s territory.”
Google’s mapping of the border line between the two countries also putmany Vietnamese border gates, such as Tan Thanh and Thanh Thuy, intoChinese territory, said Thi.
Thi said the border line between Vietnam and China in this area followsriver lines. In Lao Cai city, the border line runs along the Hong, NamThi, and Ba Ket rivers while the border line near Mong Cai city runsalong the Ka Long and Bac Luan rivers.
“There has been no change in the border line in this area since it wasmapped by the two countries in the late 19 th century,” said Thi.
Thi stressed that Google Maps was a free mapping service and did nothave any legal value, but it could cause misunderstandings among users.
Vietnam and China have completed land border demarcation and landmarkplanting along their border lines. The governments of the two countriessigned a protocol on border demarcation and landmark planting onNovember 18, 2009./.
