Nepal has said its neighbours and the international community must respect its latest map which was unanimously approved by the federal parliament in 2020.

In response to the media queries regarding the 2023 edition of the standard map of China released on August 28, Sewa Lamsal, the ministry spokesperson, said Nepal unequivocally believes that “this map must be respected by our neighbours as well as the international community”.

Stating that Nepal stands firm and clear on its political and administrative map, the ministry said the country remains committed to resolving the boundary matters through dialogue and diplomacy.

The new Chinese map has drawn strong reactions in Kathmandu for not showing the Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura areas as parts of the Nepali territory.

Nepal’s new map issued in May 2020 included the three areas that are currently under Indian control. Kathmandu had issued the map a few months after India released its own map by including the areas.

The Chinese map released on Monday night puts India’s Arunachal Pradesh and the disputed Aksai Chin area inside China. The map also shows the territories bordering China, but the pointed spur of the Nepal map is notably absent.