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Customs authorities in China in eastern Shandong province have seized sixty thousand maps that "improperly identified" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

The maps, authorities said, also "omitted important islands" in the South China Sea, where China's territorial assertions conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "violating" maps, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, authorities said.

Maps are a sensitive topic for Chinese authorities and its rivals for coral formations, maritime features and rock formations in the disputed maritime region.

Specific Compliance Issues

Customs authorities explained that the maps also omitted the nine-dash boundary, which outlines China's territorial assertion over almost the whole South China Sea.

The line comprises nine segments which stretches a significant distance southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan Island.

The confiscated materials also did not mark the sea border between mainland China and the Japanese archipelago, authorities said.

Taiwan Status

Authorities said the maps improperly identified "the Taiwan region", without clarifying what exactly the mislabelling was.

The Chinese government considers self-governed Taiwan as its territory and has maintained the option of the use of military action to unify with the island. But Taiwan sees itself as different from the mainland China, with its own constitution and elected leadership.

Regional Tensions

Conflicts in the South China Sea sometimes intensify - most recently over the weekend, when vessels from China and the Philippines were involved in another incident.

Manila claimed a China's maritime craft of intentionally colliding with and using water cannons at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Chinese officials said the encounter happened after the Philippine ship ignored repeated warnings and "moved perilously near" the Chinese ship.

Previous Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnam are also especially concerned to depictions of the South China Sea in maps.

The Barbie movie from 2023 was banned in Vietnam and edited in the Philippine release for displaying a South China Sea map with the controversial demarcation.

The statement from customs authorities did not specify where the confiscated materials were destined for sale. The country provides much of the international products, from Christmas lights to office supplies.

The seizure of "problematic maps" by China's border authorities is not uncommon - though the quantity of the maps intercepted in the Shandong region substantially surpasses past seizures. Products that fail inspection at the customs are eliminated.

In spring, border authorities at an air transportation hub in Qingdao intercepted a shipment of one hundred forty-three marine maps that contained "apparent inaccuracies" in the sovereign limits.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province intercepted two "non-compliant charts" that, in addition to other issues, featured a "improper representation" of the Tibet's boundaries.