The “West Philippine Sea” label is no longer visible on web mapping platform Google Maps.
As of Wednesday, the label appears missing from the western section of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“West Philippine Sea” now only appears as a Google Map pin when accessing the platform.
Only two weeks earlier, a Google spokesperson said the well-received labeling was always there after local media reported its presence.
“The West Philippine Sea has always been labeled on Google Maps. We recently made this label easier to see at additional zoom levels,” the spokesperson said.
The Philippines officially named areas on the archipelago’s western side as the West Philippine Sea through an administrative order by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2012.
“The maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago are hereby named the West Philippine Sea. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within, and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo De Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal,” Administrative Order 29 read.