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Chinese customs officers in the coastal province of Shandong have intercepted sixty thousand maps that "improperly identified" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "left out 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 "non-compliant" maps, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, officials confirmed.

Cartographic materials are a contentious issue for China and its regional competitors for reefs, maritime features and rock formations in the disputed maritime region.

Detailed Violations

Customs authorities explained that the maps also omitted the nine-dash boundary, which demarcates Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine lines which extends hundreds of miles southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan.

The seized maps also failed to indicate the sea border between mainland China and Japan, authorities said.

Cross-Strait Situation

Officials stated the maps incorrectly labeled "Taiwan province", without detailing what exactly the mislabelling was.

The Chinese government views self-governed Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island. But Taiwan views itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own governing document and elected leadership.

Regional Disputes

Disputes in the disputed maritime region flare up occasionally - just recently over the weekend, when maritime craft from China and the Philippines were involved in another encounter.

Manila claimed a Chinese vessel of deliberately ramming and using water cannons at a official Philippine ship.

But Chinese officials claimed the confrontation happened after the Philippine vessel failed to heed continual notices and "moved perilously near" the Chinese vessel.

Historical Similar Cases

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

The Barbie movie from 2023 was prohibited in the Vietnamese market and edited in the Philippine release for depicting a maritime chart with the nine-segment boundary.

The statement from China Customs did not indicate where the intercepted items were planned for distribution. China produces much of the world's goods, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The seizure of "non-compliant cartographic materials" by Chinese customs officers is relatively common - though the amount of the maps confiscated in the Shandong region easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Merchandise that fail inspection at the border control are disposed of.

In spring, customs officers at an airport in Qingdao seized a shipment of 143 navigation charts that contained "clear mistakes" in the territorial boundaries.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province intercepted a pair of "violating cartographic materials" that, in addition to other issues, featured a "improper representation" of the Tibetan border.