The label “West Philippine Sea” has returned to Google Maps as of Thursday morning, following its temporary disappearance that raised eyebrows online.
By 7:20 a.m. yesterday, the label was once again visible over the waters west of Luzon, confirming its restoration on the platform.
Google addressed the issue, stating, “The label was temporarily missing due to a technical issue — it’s now back on Maps.”
Though the “West Philippine Sea” tag vanished on Wednesday, users who zoomed into the area noted that “Scarborough Shoal” remained visible on the map. The shoal is a contested fishing ground within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
