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Mexico President Condemns Google’s Name Change of Gulf of Mexico

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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her disapproval on Thursday over Google’s decision to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico on its Google Maps platform. This move followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to rename the body of water to the “Gulf of America.”

In a letter addressed to Google, Sheinbaum’s government argued that the United States cannot unilaterally rename a body of water that it shares with both Mexico and Cuba. The change would apply only to U.S. users of Google Maps once it is officially updated in the U.S. Geographic Names System. For users in Mexico, the name “Gulf of Mexico” will remain, while internationally, both names will be shown.

The conflict between Sheinbaum and Trump over the name change has escalated, with Sheinbaum previously jesting that, if countries were to start renaming geographical locations, North America should be renamed “Mexican America,” referencing a 1607 map of the region.

Mexico’s position is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which asserts that a country’s sovereignty only extends 12 nautical miles (about 22 kilometers) from its coastline. As a result, Sheinbaum emphasized that the U.S. could only change the name of the Gulf within its own 12 nautical miles, not beyond that.

In her morning press conference, Sheinbaum reiterated that Mexico had requested Google to feature the term “Mexican America” when searched. She called for Google to prominently display this on its platform as part of the broader conversation about territorial naming rights.

 

Philippines to Continue Vessel Deployment in Contested South China Sea Shoal

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The Philippines will maintain a persistent presence in the contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, according to a statement by its coast guard on Monday. This comes after the Philippine vessel Teresa Magbanua returned to port following a five-month deployment in the area.

Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Jay Tarriela emphasized that the country will continue to deploy vessels in these waters, reinforcing the nation’s stance amid concerns over China’s activities. The Teresa Magbanua was initially sent to the shoal in April to monitor what the Philippines suspects are small-scale land reclamation operations by China. The ship’s return on Sunday was due to the need for repairs and to address crew medical needs, and not in response to any demands from China, according to Tarriela.

Sabina Shoal, referred to by China as Xianbin Reef and by the Philippines as Escoda Shoal, is located west of the Philippine province of Palawan, within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Despite China’s claims, the Philippines is committed to ensuring a coast guard presence at all times, regardless of the size or number of vessels, Tarriela assured during a press conference.

China’s coast guard responded on Sunday, stating it will continue its law enforcement activities within the waters it claims as its jurisdiction, in line with Beijing’s laws, to protect its territorial sovereignty and maritime interests.

China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, leading to territorial disputes with several Southeast Asian nations, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. However, in 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled against China’s extensive territorial claims, a decision that Beijing has repeatedly rejected.