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

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

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

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

Detailed Compliance Issues

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

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

The confiscated materials also failed to indicate the maritime boundary between China and the Japanese archipelago, authorities said.

Cross-Strait Status

Authorities said the maps mislabelled "the Taiwan region", without clarifying what exactly the mislabelling was.

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has maintained the option of the use of military action to unify with the island. But Taiwanese authorities considers itself different from the mainland China, with its own governing document and elected leadership.

Regional Tensions

Disputes in the disputed maritime region flare up occasionally - most recently over the weekend, when ships from China and the Philippines were involved in another confrontation.

Manila alleged a China's maritime craft of deliberately ramming and deploying water jets at a Philippine government vessel.

But Beijing claimed the incident happened after the Philippine ship failed to heed continual notices and "moved perilously near" the China's maritime craft.

Previous Precedents

The Philippine government and Vietnam are also especially concerned to representations of the disputed maritime region in cartographic materials.

The 2023 Barbie film from 2023 was prohibited in the Vietnamese market and modified in the Philippines for depicting a South China Sea map with the nine-segment boundary.

The statement from China Customs did not say where the intercepted items were destined for sale. China produces much of the international products, from Christmas lights to office supplies.

The interception of "violating charts" by China's border authorities is relatively common - though the number of the maps seized in Shandong easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Goods that do not meet standards at the border control are disposed of.

In spring, border authorities at an air transportation hub in the coastal city intercepted a batch of 143 navigation charts that contained "clear mistakes" in the territorial boundaries.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province confiscated a pair of "non-compliant charts" that, besides other problems, contained a "incorrect depiction" of the Tibet's boundaries.