Wall Street Journal
By CRIS LARANO in Manila and NGUYEN PHAM MUOI and NGUYEN ANH THU in Hanoi
China appeared to seek to assuage angry neighbors over a passport design they consider provocative, one day after the U.S. said it would raise the issue with Beijing.
A map printed in new Chinese passports depicts as part of China waters and islands also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines as well as two inland areas also claimed by India. The passport also has images from Taiwan, an island that China considers its sovereign territory.
The inclusion of the map in the passports has prompted protests around the region and several governments have come up alternative entry forms to avoid stamping the new Chinese passports or issue visas with their own maps for Chinese visitors.
At a regular media briefing on Wednesday, China Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei sought to play down the map’s significance. “The picture on the passport should not be overinterpreted.” he said. “China is ready to maintain communication with relevant countries and promote the sound development of personnel exchanges.”
Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323751104578146700465245848.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
