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Chinese customs officers in the coastal province of Shandong have confiscated 60,000 maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities considers part of its sovereign land.

The maps, officials stated, also "failed to include important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where China's territorial assertions overlap with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

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

Maps are a delicate subject for Chinese authorities and its rivals for coral formations, maritime features and rock formations in the South China Sea.

Specific Violations

China Customs explained that the maps also failed to include the nine-dash line, which demarcates Beijing's claim over almost the whole South China Sea.

The demarcation includes nine dashes which extends numerous nautical miles southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan.

The confiscated materials also did not mark the sea border between China and the Japanese archipelago, customs representatives stated.

Taiwan Status

Authorities said the maps improperly identified "the Taiwan region", without detailing what exactly the incorrect labeling was.

China views self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of military action to take the island. But Taiwan sees itself as separate from the Chinese mainland, with its own governing document and democratically-elected leaders.

Geopolitical Disputes

Disputes in the South China Sea flare up occasionally - most recently over the weekend, when maritime craft from China and the Philippine government participated in another incident.

Philippine authorities alleged a Chinese ship of intentionally colliding with and deploying water jets at a Philippine government vessel.

But Beijing stated the confrontation happened after the Philippine vessel disregarded multiple alerts and "came too close to" the Chinese ship.

Historical Precedents

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

The popular motion picture from 2023 was prohibited in Vietnam and modified in the Philippine release for displaying a South China Sea map with the controversial demarcation.

The declaration from customs authorities did not say where the intercepted items were planned for distribution. The country provides much of the world's goods, from Christmas lights to stationery.

The seizure of "violating charts" by Chinese customs officers is relatively common - though the quantity of the maps seized in Shandong easily eclipses previous confiscations. Products that are non-compliant at the border control are destroyed.

In spring, border authorities at an air transportation hub in Qingdao intercepted a shipment of 143 navigation charts that featured "obvious errors" in the sovereign limits.

In August, customs officers in the northern province intercepted two "non-compliant charts" that, among other things, included a "improper representation" of the the Tibet region's limits.