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Customs authorities in China in the coastal province of Shandong have seized 60,000 maps that "improperly identified" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its sovereign land.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "left out important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where Beijing's claims conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The "non-compliant" maps, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of China, authorities said.

Cartographic materials are a contentious issue for Chinese authorities and its regional competitors for reefs, islands and rock formations in the South China Sea.

Specific Compliance Issues

China Customs said that the maps also failed to include the nine-dash line, which outlines Beijing's claim over the vast majority of the South China Sea.

The line comprises nine segments which extends a significant distance southeastward from its most southerly province of Hainan Island.

The intercepted cartographic items also failed to indicate the sea border between mainland China and Japan, customs representatives stated.

Taiwan Situation

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

The Chinese government views self-governed Taiwan as its territory and has kept open the possibility of the use of force to unify with the island. But Taiwan views itself as different from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and popularly chosen officials.

Regional Tensions

Tensions in the disputed maritime region periodically escalate - most recently over the weekend, when ships from China and the Philippine government figured in another confrontation.

Manila alleged a China's maritime craft of intentionally colliding with and deploying water jets at a official Philippine ship.

But Chinese officials said the confrontation happened after the vessel from the Philippines failed to heed continual notices and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnam are also highly vigilant to depictions of the South China Sea in cartographic materials.

The Barbie movie from 2023 was banned in the Vietnamese market and modified in the Philippines for showing a maritime chart with the nine-segment boundary.

The announcement from customs authorities did not indicate where the intercepted items were planned for distribution. The country produces much of the international products, from holiday decorations to office supplies.

The interception of "non-compliant cartographic materials" by China's border authorities is frequently occurring - though the number of the maps confiscated in the Shandong region easily eclipses past seizures. Goods that are non-compliant at the border control are destroyed.

In spring, border authorities at an airport in Qingdao seized a shipment of 143 nautical charts that contained "apparent inaccuracies" in the sovereign limits.

In late summer, customs officers in Hebei province seized two "non-compliant charts" that, among other things, featured a "improper representation" of the Tibetan border.