'West Philippine Sea' label reappears on Google Maps after brief absence

As of 7:20 a.m., the label had returned to its usual location—marking the waters west of Luzon. Its reappearance follows public attention over its brief absence earlier this week.

On Wednesday, users noticed that the “West Philippine Sea” label was missing from the map. However, zooming in on the area still revealed the Scarborough Shoal, a common fishing ground that lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

According to a statement from Google, the label had not been removed entirely but was recently made “easier to see” during an update earlier this month. The Scarborough Shoal—also known as Panatag Shoal—continues to appear clearly on the platform, situated within the body of water identified as the West Philippine Sea.

The temporary disappearance of the label raised concerns online, given the ongoing maritime and territorial issues surrounding the region.

Google has yet to issue an updated statement regarding the label’s brief absence and reappearance.