No, it’s not unusual.

Is it unusual for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to not have a map of China in the wall behind the spokesperson?
Answer: Refer to the Title.
In fact, it is completely standard.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China always uses a world map as the backdrop for its regular press briefings, rather than a map focused solely on China. [1, 2]

Backdrop Design Analysis

• The Background Wall: The signature deep blue briefing wall features a stylized, white-outline map of the world. What you see in the third image (image_vCSDEz.png) is the Americas, Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and parts of Europe/Asia outlined globally.

  [1]

• The Location of China: The section of the world map containing China is located on the right side of the backdrop, which is usually obscured or partially blocked from view by the Chinese national flagsplaced on stage behind the spokesperson.

• Sovereignty Context: Using a world map aligns with the Ministry's role in global diplomacy and foreign affairs. When China officially publishes its specialized national borders (such as its annual "standard map" updates), it does so through the Ministry of Natural Resources, not during the daily foreign ministry press briefings. [1, 2, 3, 4]

If you are interested in details regarding a specific briefing, I can look into what topics or specific diplomatic statements were addressed during that session. [1]

Effective October 1, 2026, the Marine Corps Administrative Message doubles Hostile Fire Pay to $450 per month and raises Imminent Danger Pay to $275 per month ($9.16 per day).

Key Pay Changes

• Hostile Fire Pay: Doubles from $225 to $450 per month, hitting the legal maximum cap.

• Imminent Danger Pay: Increases from $225 ($7.50 per day) to $275 per month ($9.16 per day).

• Timeline: The changes take effect on October 1, 2026, marking the first major combat pay increase in over two decades.

• Eligibility Note: Service members who qualify for both types of pay may only receive one per month. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Would you like to know more about the 58 designated global locations eligible for these payments or the FY 2027 defense budget proposals?

The full list of 58 designated global locations eligible for Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) spans land masses, maritime bodies, and their respective airspaces. Formally maintained by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the official list is categorized geographically below. [1, 2]

🌊 Maritime & Airspace Zones (10 Locations)

• Arabian Gulf

• Arabian Sea (North of 10°00'N, West of 68°00'E)

• Bab-al-Mandeb Strait

• Black Sea

• Gulf of Aden

• Gulf of Oman

• Indian Ocean

• Iran (Airspace)

• Mediterranean Sea

• Red Sea [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

🌍 Middle East & North Africa (16 Locations)

• Afghanistan

• Algeria

• Bahrain

• Egypt

• Iraq

• Israel

• Jordan

• Kuwait

• Lebanon

• Oman

• Qatar

• Saudi Arabia

• Syria

• Tunisia

• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Yemen [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

🌍 Sub-Saharan Africa (15 Locations)

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cameroon (Far North & North provinces)

• Chad

• Congo, Democratic Republic of

• Djibouti

• Eritrea

• Ethiopia

• Kenya

• Libya

• Mali

• Niger

• Nigeria

• Somalia

• South Sudan [1, 2, 3]

🌏 Asia & Southern Oceans (12 Locations)

• Azerbaijan

• Burma (Myanmar) (Rangoon region)

• Diego Garcia

• Kyrgyzstan

• Malaysia

• Pakistan

• Philippines

• Syria

• Tajikistan

• Turkey

• Uzbekistan [1, 2, 3, 4]

🇪🇺 Europe & Americas (5 Locations)

• Colombia

• Cyprus

• Kosovo

• Slovakia

• Ukraine [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

(Note: Certain locations contain specific boundaries or restrictions designated down to coordinates, cities, or provinces within the official military framework). [1]

The 18 Recent Additions (Operation Epic Fury)

In February, the Pentagon added 18 new locations to the list following the start of Operation Epic Furytargeting Iran. These designations are explicitly temporary and scheduled to expire three months after the operation or any follow-on presidential directives conclude. [1, 2]

They include troops serving in: [1]

• Key Maritime Bodies: The Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea.

• Middle Eastern Nations & Hubs: Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.

• Strategic Strategic Outposts: Turkey, Cyprus, and Diego Garcia. [1, 2]

Long-Standing Imminent Danger Zones

The remaining 40 locations are areas that have maintained their threat designation for years due to historical or ongoing conflict, civil insurrection, or terrorism. Notable long-term zones include: [1, 2]

• Iraq

• Syria

• Afghanistan

• Somalia

• Ukraine

• Kosovo [1, 2]

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