Cartographic Aggression

Cartographic Aggression is a concept and a type of psychological warfare or gray zone tactic. It is defined as the intentional misrepresentation of national or international boundaries on maps to claim a larger territorial expanse and influence public opinion, nationally and internationally. This phenomenon is also referred to as cartographic expansionism. The concept dates back to the existence of Nation States. In the Indian context, it has been furthered by China and Pakistan since independence. An early visible instance was China's release of a map depicting Aksai Chin as Chinese territory after the construction of a highway through it, which began in the early 1950s. The term is also used by Nepal to describe India's unilateral cartographic manipulation concerning the border established by the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, particularly regarding the Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiadhura areas. The mechanism involves States releasing official maps that depict borders beyond what they control on the ground. This tactic is a component of psychological warfare and is part of China's "Three Warfares" strategic framework, which includes public opinion/media warfare, psychological warfare, and legal warfare (lawfare). China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh as "South Tibet" (Zangnan) are advanced through such official maps. There has been a recent spike in such instances globally. A notable recent example is China's release of a map in August 2023 that expanded its claims, encompassing parts of Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh. China also engages in renaming locations in Arunachal Pradesh as part of this strategic encroachment.