Foreigners in China now require government approval before conducting mapping surveys, according to a regulation issued on Monday.

"Foreign organizations and individuals, who engage in surveying and mapping must obtain approval from the central government and accept supervision from local governments above the county-level," said a regulation issued by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Chinese law on surveying and mapping states that foreigners must cooperate with a Chinese partner and that these activities must not involve state secrets or jeopardize national security.

These new rules prohibit foreigners from conducting land surveys, aerial photography, mapping of administrative borderlines and the drawing of navigation maps without appropriate permission and partnership.

The number of foreigners conducting surveying and mapping in China is rising with many such field projects having been carried out illegally, threatening national security, said the ministry without mentioning the number of such cases.

Last year, two Japanese scholars were fined a total of 80,000 yuan (US$10,000) and deported for collecting materials and coordinates of an airport and water facilities in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It had been feared their results could be put to military use.

According to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, foreigners who illegally survey, gather and publish geographical information on China will be severely punished. Chinese partners or translators will be fined if they fail to halt illegal mapping activities.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2007)