Illegal mapping in China by foreigners on rise: SBSM
3/9/2007 16:46
The number of cases involving foreign institutions and individuals
conducting illegal surveying and mapping in China has been on the rise in recent
years, according to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM).
In the
first six months of this year, local authorities have handled five cases and
investigating five others in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shanghai
Municipality, and Jiangxi and Jiangsu provinces.
SBSM said most of these
foreigners came into the country under the disguise of scientists, tourists,
expeditionists, and archaeologists.
These foreign nationals carried out their
illegal surveying and mapping with advanced technique and equipment and had
obtained a lot of precise information and data on coordinates, topography and
geography, which may threaten China's state security, according to the
official.
Currently, surveying and mapping authorities of different levels
have stepped up their efforts to crack down on this kind of illegal activities,
in collaboration with state security and secrecy departments.
According to
previous reports, in last year's April, two Japanese scholars were caught on the
spot for mapping the coordinates of an airport and water facilities in Hotan of
Xinjiang, and later, the two foreigners paid a fine of 80,000 yuan (about
US$10,250).
In other cases, three Japanese were fined 40,000 yuan (about
US$5,260) in the first half of this year for illegal surveying in Shanghai
Municipality and Jiangxi Province. The SBSM confiscated their surveying
equipment and records.
Last year, the Ministry of Land and Resources issued a
statute to prohibit foreigners from conducting land surveying, aerial
photography, mapping of administrative borders, and drawing navigational
maps.
According to the regulations, foreign institutions and individuals
intending to engage in surveying and mapping in China must obtain official
approval from the central government, and local governments are responsible for
supervision over their activities.
China's Law on Surveying and Mapping
states that foreigners who want to do surveying and mapping in the country must
work together with a local partner, and their activities must not involve state
secrets or jeopardize national security.
The results of these foreigners'
surveying and mapping belong to China, and must not be brought and transmitted
abroad without official permission by Chinese authorities, according to the
law.
Foreigners who have illegally surveyed, collected and published
geographical information on China will be severely punished according to law.
Xinhua
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