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Customs authorities in China in the coastal province of Shandong have confiscated 60,000 maps that "incorrectly labeled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities claims as part of its sovereign land.

The maps, officials stated, also "left out important islands" in the South China Sea, where China's territorial assertions conflict with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "problematic" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, officials confirmed.

Maps are a sensitive topic for China and its rivals for coral formations, islands and rock formations in the South China Sea.

Specific Compliance Issues

China Customs said that the maps also omitted the nine-segment line, which defines China's territorial assertion over almost the whole South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine lines which stretches numerous nautical miles southeastward from its southern province of Hainan.

The intercepted cartographic items also did not mark the sea border between mainland China and the Japanese archipelago, customs representatives stated.

Taiwan Status

Officials stated the maps improperly identified "the Taiwan region", without detailing what exactly the mislabelling was.

China considers self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has kept open the possibility of the use of force to take the island. But Taiwan considers itself distinct from the mainland China, with its own constitution and elected leadership.

Geopolitical Tensions

Disputes in the South China Sea periodically escalate - in recent days over the weekend, when vessels from Chinese authorities and the Philippines were involved in another encounter.

Manila claimed a Chinese vessel of intentionally colliding with and using water cannons at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Chinese officials claimed the confrontation happened after the Philippine ship ignored repeated warnings and "came too close to" the China's maritime craft.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities are also especially concerned to depictions of the disputed maritime region in cartographic materials.

The 2023 Barbie film from last year was prohibited in Vietnam and censored in the Philippine release for depicting a maritime chart with the controversial demarcation.

The statement from customs authorities did not specify where the seized maps were intended to be sold. The country supplies much of the world's goods, from holiday decorations to office supplies.

The confiscation of "violating charts" by Chinese customs officers is relatively common - though the quantity of the maps seized in Shandong substantially surpasses previous confiscations. Products that fail inspection at the customs are eliminated.

In spring, border authorities at an airport in Qingdao seized a shipment of 143 nautical charts that contained "clear mistakes" in the national borders.

In August, customs officers in the northern province seized a pair of "non-compliant charts" that, in addition to other issues, featured a "misdrawing" of the Tibetan border.