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Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have intercepted 60,000 maps that "mislabelled" the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its sovereign land.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "left out important islands" in the South China Sea, where China's territorial assertions conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "violating" maps, meant for export, cannot be sold because they "threaten national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, officials confirmed.

Cartographic materials are a contentious issue for Chinese authorities and its rivals for reefs, islands and outcrops in the South China Sea.

Specific Compliance Issues

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

The boundary consists of nine segments which extends hundreds of miles southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan Island.

The intercepted cartographic items also omitted the maritime boundary between China and the Japanese archipelago, officials confirmed.

Cross-Strait Situation

Customs representatives explained the maps incorrectly labeled "the Taiwan region", without specifying what exactly the mislabelling was.

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

Regional Disputes

Conflicts in the disputed maritime region sometimes intensify - in recent days over the weekend, when vessels from Chinese authorities and the Philippine government were involved in another incident.

Manila accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming and using water cannons at a official Philippine ship.

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

Previous Precedents

The Philippines and Vietnamese authorities are also highly vigilant to depictions of the disputed maritime region in cartographic materials.

The 2023 Barbie film from 2023 was prohibited in the Vietnamese market and modified in the Philippine release for displaying a South China Sea map with the controversial demarcation.

The announcement from customs authorities did not specify where the confiscated materials were planned for distribution. The country produces much of the international products, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The interception of "violating charts" by China's border authorities is not uncommon - though the number of the maps seized in Shandong easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Products that fail inspection at the border control are destroyed.

In spring, border authorities at an air transportation hub in Qingdao seized a batch of 143 navigation charts that featured "clear mistakes" in the national borders.

In late summer, customs officers in the northern province intercepted two "violating cartographic materials" that, besides other problems, included a "misdrawing" of the Tibetan border.