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Customs authorities in China in eastern Shandong province have confiscated sixty thousand maps that "improperly identified" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.

The maps, authorities said, also "left out important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where China's territorial assertions clash with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The "non-compliant" maps, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "threaten national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of China, customs representatives stated.

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

Detailed Violations

Customs authorities stated that the maps also did not contain the nine-dash line, which outlines Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The demarcation includes nine lines which stretches a significant distance southeastward from its most southerly province of Hainan Island.

The seized maps also failed to indicate the oceanic demarcation between China and Japan, authorities said.

Cross-Strait Status

Authorities said the maps incorrectly labeled "Taiwan province", without detailing what exactly the incorrect labeling was.

The Chinese government sees self-ruled Taiwan as its sovereign land and has maintained the option of the use of force to take the island. But Taiwan considers itself distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and popularly chosen officials.

Geopolitical Disputes

Disputes in the South China Sea flare up occasionally - in recent days over the weekend, when vessels from Chinese authorities and the Philippines figured in another incident.

Philippine authorities accused a China's maritime craft of intentionally colliding with and firing its water cannon at a government-owned Philippine craft.

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

Previous Similar Cases

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

The popular motion picture from 2023 was banned in Vietnam and edited in the Philippines for showing a maritime chart with the nine-segment boundary.

The statement from China Customs did not say where the confiscated materials were planned for distribution. The country produces much of the international products, from Christmas lights to office supplies.

The interception of "non-compliant cartographic materials" by China's border authorities is frequently occurring - though the number of the maps intercepted in the Shandong region substantially surpasses earlier interceptions. Goods that are non-compliant at the border control are eliminated.

In March, border authorities at an airport in Qingdao seized a shipment of 143 marine maps that contained "clear mistakes" in the sovereign limits.

In late summer, customs officers in the northern province seized two "non-compliant charts" that, in addition to other issues, contained a "misdrawing" of the the Tibet region's limits.