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Customs authorities in China in eastern Shandong province 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, authorities said, also "failed to include important islands" in the South China Sea, where Beijing's claims conflict with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

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

Maps are a contentious issue for China and its regional competitors for coral formations, maritime features and outcrops in the South China Sea.

Specific Compliance Issues

Customs authorities stated that the maps also omitted the nine-segment line, which demarcates Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine dashes which extends a significant distance southeastern direction from its southern province of Hainan.

The confiscated materials also did not mark the oceanic demarcation between mainland China and Japan, authorities said.

Cross-Strait Status

Authorities said the maps improperly identified "Taiwan province", without detailing what exactly the mislabelling was.

China sees self-governed Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of military action to take the island. But Taiwan views itself as different from the mainland China, with its own governing document and popularly chosen officials.

Geopolitical Tensions

Conflicts in the South China Sea periodically escalate - most recently over the weekend, when maritime craft from China and the Philippines were involved in another confrontation.

Manila alleged a Chinese vessel of intentionally colliding with and firing its water cannon at a official Philippine ship.

But Beijing stated the confrontation happened after the Philippine vessel failed to heed continual notices and "came too close to" the Chinese vessel.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities are also highly vigilant to representations of the disputed maritime region in maps.

The 2023 Barbie film from 2023 was banned in Vietnam and edited in the Philippine release for depicting a South China Sea map with the nine-segment boundary.

The announcement from customs authorities did not say where the intercepted items were intended to be sold. China produces much of the international products, from Christmas lights to office supplies.

The interception of "non-compliant cartographic materials" by Chinese customs officers is frequently occurring - though the amount of the maps intercepted in Shandong substantially surpasses earlier interceptions. Merchandise that fail inspection at the customs are eliminated.

In spring, customs officers at an air transportation hub in Qingdao confiscated a shipment of 143 marine maps that contained "clear mistakes" in the national borders.

In late summer, border authorities in the northern province confiscated a pair of "violating cartographic materials" that, besides other problems, contained a "improper representation" of the the Tibet region's limits.