China issues thematic map on Diaoyu Islands

BEIJING - China issued on Tuesday a thematic map on the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islands.

The map is compiled and issued by the SinoMaps Press, announced National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at Tuesday's routine press briefing that the issue of the map is another concrete measure taken by the Chinese government to enhance its administration of the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands.

Last Saturday, China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) released a string of geographic coordinates of the Diaoyu Island and some of its affiliated islands, including the exact longitude and latitude of the Diaoyu Island and 70 of its affiliated islands. It also publishes location maps, three-dimension effect graphs and sketch maps for the Diaoyu Islands.

The announcement aims to help the public understand the information concerning the Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands, the SOA said in a statement on its website.