evidence: The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) 2023 "standard map" raised familiar protests with its long-invalidated claims to most of the South China Sea as well as the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and other disputed territory. An unexpected assertion of sovereignty over an island at the PRC’s Russian border, however, showed Beijing’s willingness to appropriate territory even from its closest partners. [...] After the PRC’s latest claim to the entire island, Russia’s foreign ministry stated that the issue was settled more than a decade ago and dismissed any suggestion of reopening the dispute, Newsweek reported. [...] Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry rejected the map, saying it encroaches on Malaysian maritime areas in Sabah and Sarawak states. Vietnam said the PRC’s invalidated boundaries violate Hanoi’s sovereignty over sea regions as determined by UNCLOS. The PRC’s claim on Indonesia’s Natuna Islands drew protest from Jakarta, with its Foreign Ministry stating, "Any drawing of lines, any claims made must be in accordance with UNCLOS."