Visiting or leaving China any time next year? Make sure you got your maps updated! 

As part of 'The Regulation of People's Republic of China on Administration of Maps', a new policy submitted on November 2011 will impose stringent rules on obsolete and illegal maps starting January 1, 2016. Even the reproduction, displaying and presenting of wrong maps will be charged as an offence.

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According to Chinese state media, the aim of the new policy is to "boost development of the geographic information industry" and hold up the "national sovereignty and geographic information security." 

The People's Republic has updated its sea boundaries particularly the inclusion of South China Sea within the 'nine-dashed line'. China's new map includes the two disputed islands with Vietnam and the Philippines, namely, Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands.

According to the State Council of China, because maps represent the country's supremacy and political views, strict supervision will be carried out as certain violations like compilation error and confidential geographic and personal data leak have occurred in the past.

With the advent of technology, GPS or online maps have become a trend and can be updated in real-time. The new law requires users to set up a server within the communist country. In addition, companies with GPS map location services have to get an official certificate. 

Violators of the new policy will be fined with as much as 200,000 yuan and could even be charged with criminal offences.

China has prohibited mapping companies that do not comply with its terms including Google Maps, which has been blocked since 2010. Among the virtual mapping server in China today are Alibaba's AutoNavi, Baidu and Tencent.

Tagsnine-dashed line, nine-dashed, China's map, People's Republic of China on Administration of Maps, Maps, Paracel Islands, Vietnam, Google Maps, AutoNavi