In a world where borders are often blurred and names can be contentious, digital maps have become a battleground for governments and territories vying for recognition. From the Gulf of Mexico to the Persian Gulf, and from the South China Sea to the Sea of Japan, the names we use to describe our oceans and seas reflect complex historical, cultural, and territorial disputes.
The Case of the Gulf of America
In January, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Some digital maps quickly followed suit, but not without controversy. Google Maps, for example, began displaying “Gulf of America” to users in the United States and “Gulf of Mexico” to those outside the country. The Mexican government threatened to sue Google for applying the change to Mexican territories.
A Sea of Disputes
The Persian Gulf has been a source of contention between Iran and its Arab neighbors for decades. While Iran uses the name Persian Gulf, Arab countries have promoted the term Arabian Gulf as part of their pan-Arab nationalism push. In 2012, Google was threatened with lawsuits by both sides over its naming convention.
A Pacific Puzzle
The South China Sea is a strategically important waterway in the Pacific Ocean, with competing claims from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. China’s nine-dash line has been disputed for decades, and different countries have their own names for the sea: East Sea (Vietnam), West Philippine Sea (Philippines), and South China Sea (China).
A Korean Conundrum
The Sea of Japan is a body of water separating Japan from the Korean Peninsula. However, South Korea calls it the East Sea. In 2024, Netflix acknowledged that it had “mislabeled” the East Sea as the Sea of Japan in the Spanish subtitles for a Korean series.
A World of Names
Different digital map services reflect different naming conventions depending on their user base and geographical focus. Here are some examples:
* Google Maps: shows both names for disputed seas, such as the Persian Gulf (Iran) and Arabian Gulf (Arab countries)
* Apple’s Maps: uses the term “Gulf of America” for US users
* Baidu Maps (China): does not label the South China Sea
* Naver Map (South Korea): shows the East Sea (Korean name)
* Here WeGo (Europe): displays multiple names for disputed seas
In conclusion, digital maps reflect a world where names can be contentious and complex. While some digital map services try to balance competing claims by showing both names, others may prioritize one name over another depending on their user base or geographical focus.
Source: Rest of World
