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

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "omitted important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where China's territorial assertions overlap with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities.

The "non-compliant" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, cannot be sold because they "endanger national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, customs representatives stated.

Cartographic materials are a sensitive topic for Chinese authorities and its rivals for coral formations, islands and outcrops in the South China Sea.

Specific Compliance Issues

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

The line comprises nine lines which extends a significant distance south and east from its southernmost province of Hainan Island.

The intercepted cartographic items also omitted the maritime boundary between China and the Japanese archipelago, customs representatives stated.

Taiwan Situation

Authorities said the maps mislabelled "Taiwan province", without detailing what exactly the improper identification was.

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has kept open the possibility of the use of military action to unify with the island. But Taiwanese authorities considers itself separate from the mainland China, with its own constitution and elected leadership.

Regional Disputes

Tensions in the disputed maritime region sometimes intensify - just recently over the weekend, when vessels from China and the Philippine government figured in another incident.

Philippine authorities alleged a China's maritime craft of intentionally colliding with and using water cannons at a official Philippine ship.

But Beijing claimed the confrontation happened after the vessel from the Philippines ignored repeated warnings and "came too close to" the Chinese vessel.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities are also highly vigilant to representations of the disputed maritime region in cartographic materials.

The 2023 Barbie film from last year was prohibited in the Vietnamese market and modified in the Philippines for showing a South China Sea map with the nine-segment boundary.

The statement from customs authorities did not specify where the intercepted items were planned for distribution. China produces much of the global merchandise, from Christmas lights to stationery.

The interception of "problematic maps" by Chinese customs officers is relatively common - though the number of the maps intercepted in the Shandong region significantly exceeds earlier interceptions. Merchandise that fail inspection at the customs are eliminated.

In spring, customs officers at an air transportation hub in the coastal city intercepted a batch of 143 nautical charts that included "obvious errors" in the territorial boundaries.

In August, border authorities in Hebei province intercepted a pair of "non-compliant charts" that, besides other problems, featured a "misdrawing" of the the Tibet region's limits.