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Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have seized sixty thousand maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities considers part of its territory.

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

The "violating" 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, authorities said.

Maps are a contentious issue for China and its rivals for coral formations, islands and outcrops in the disputed maritime region.

Detailed Compliance Issues

China Customs stated that the maps also failed to include the nine-segment line, which outlines China's territorial assertion over almost the whole South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine segments which runs a significant distance southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan Island.

The intercepted cartographic items also did not mark the oceanic demarcation between mainland China and Japan, officials confirmed.

Taiwan Status

Officials stated the maps mislabelled "the Taiwan region", without specifying what exactly the mislabelling was.

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

Geopolitical Disputes

Disputes in the South China Sea flare up occasionally - just recently over the weekend, when ships from Chinese authorities and the Philippine government figured in another incident.

Manila alleged a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming and using water cannons at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Chinese officials said the encounter happened after the Philippine vessel disregarded multiple alerts and "dangerously approached" the China's maritime craft.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnamese authorities are also highly vigilant to portrayals of the South China Sea in maps.

The Barbie movie from 2023 was banned in Vietnam and censored in the Philippines for depicting a maritime chart with the controversial demarcation.

The declaration from customs authorities did not specify where the confiscated materials were intended to be sold. The country produces much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to office supplies.

The confiscation of "problematic maps" by Chinese customs officers is frequently occurring - though the number of the maps seized in Shandong significantly exceeds previous confiscations. Products that are non-compliant at the customs are destroyed.

In spring, customs officers at an air transportation hub in the coastal city seized a shipment of one hundred forty-three nautical charts that included "clear mistakes" in the sovereign limits.

In August, customs officers in Hebei province seized a pair of "violating cartographic materials" that, among other things, included a "incorrect depiction" of the Tibetan border.