China Renames 80 South China Sea Maritime Features

China's Ministry of Natural Resources jointly published Chinese names for 80 South China Sea features—islands, reefs, seamounts, shoals, and ridges—including 55 submerged features. This was the first such renaming exercise since 1983. Vietnam immediately condemned the move as a violation of its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands; the Philippines and other claimants filed protests.