Japan has requested a revision of the new world map adopted by the UN, reports The Guardian. Officials in Tokyo say that, according to the new map, the Kuril Islands appear to belong to Russia, while Japan disputes this and rejects the idea that a territory disputed with Moscow should be considered as belonging to the latter.
The UN maintains that the new map aims to provide a “more accurate representation” of the continental surfaces than that offered by traditional projections.
The USA condemned the new world map, adopted by the UN
The UN General Assembly voted on Friday to adopt the new map. This increases the representation of the African continent, while reducing North America and Europe. The new map has already drawn condemnations from the USA.
Japan was among the 164 members of the UN who supported the adoption resolution, but is currently contesting the map. On it, the Kuril Islands, referred to by the Japanese as the Northern Territories, are represented in the same color as Russia.
The spokesperson for the Japanese government, Minoru Kihara, said on Thursday that the new map – known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection – “contains a representation that contradicts the position of the Japanese government.”
“We have lodged a protest with the site operator hosting the map, through our diplomatic channels, requesting the correction of this representation,” Kihara told journalists.
He refused to say when the issue came to the government’s attention, but asserted that Japan “must prevent the spread of erroneous perceptions regarding our country’s territories and geographical names.”
Details, HERE