Why Is Putin Suddenly Criticizing China?

A newly released version of China’s standard map has sparked discontent from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The updated map claims full ownership of Bolshoi Ussuriysk Island, a territory that was divided between Russia and China in a 2005 agreement after long-standing disputes. In this version, China asserts the entire island as its own, which has raised concerns in Russia.

Mark Katz, a professor at George Mason University, suggests this map could strain relations between the two nations. Despite the potential tensions, he notes that Russia, currently isolated internationally, may have limited options to respond.

While Putin has yet to address the matter, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova emphasized that the border along the island was established in 2008 and that both nations had agreed on “the absence of mutual territorial claims” since at least 2001. Still, the map appears to have been approved by Chinese authorities.