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Chinese customs officers in the coastal province of Shandong have seized sixty thousand maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "left out important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where Beijing's claims overlap with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "problematic" 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, officials confirmed.

Cartographic materials are a contentious issue for Chinese authorities and its regional competitors for reefs, maritime features and rock formations in the South China Sea.

Specific Violations

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

The demarcation includes nine dashes which extends a significant distance southeastward from its southern province of Hainan.

The seized maps also did not mark the oceanic demarcation between China and the Japanese archipelago, authorities said.

Cross-Strait Situation

Customs representatives explained the maps mislabelled "Taiwan province", without clarifying what exactly the improper identification was.

The Chinese government views self-governed Taiwan as its sovereign land and has kept open the possibility of the use of force to unify with the island. But Taiwan views itself as different from the mainland China, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.

Regional Disputes

Tensions in the disputed maritime region flare up occasionally - most recently over the weekend, when vessels from Chinese authorities and the Philippine government were involved in another confrontation.

Manila alleged a China's maritime craft of purposefully hitting and firing its water cannon at a official Philippine ship.

But Chinese officials stated the encounter happened after the Philippine vessel disregarded multiple alerts and "came too close to" the Chinese vessel.

Historical Precedents

The Philippines and Vietnam are also especially concerned to depictions of the disputed maritime region in maps.

The Barbie movie from 2023 was banned in Vietnam and modified in the Philippine release for showing a maritime chart with the nine dash line.

The declaration from customs authorities did not indicate where the intercepted items were destined for sale. The country supplies much of the global merchandise, from Christmas lights to stationery.

The seizure of "problematic maps" by customs officials is frequently occurring - though the quantity of the maps seized in the Shandong region easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Goods that do not meet standards at the border control are eliminated.

In March, border authorities at an airport in the coastal city seized a batch of one hundred forty-three navigation charts that included "obvious errors" in the national borders.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province confiscated a pair of "problematic maps" that, in addition to other issues, featured a "misdrawing" of the Tibet's boundaries.