China confiscates sixty thousand maps for 'improperly identifying' the island of Taiwan

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

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

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

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.

Detailed Compliance Issues

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 extends hundreds of miles south and east from its southernmost province of Hainan.

The seized maps also did not mark the sea border between mainland China and Japan, customs representatives stated.

Cross-Strait Situation

Officials stated the maps mislabelled "the Taiwan region", without detailing what exactly the mislabelling was.

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

Regional Tensions

Tensions in the South China Sea sometimes intensify - in recent days over the weekend, when ships from China and the Philippines figured in another incident.

Manila alleged a China's maritime craft of purposefully hitting and using water cannons at a official Philippine ship.

But Beijing claimed the incident happened after the vessel from the Philippines disregarded multiple alerts and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship.

Historical Precedents

The Philippine government and Vietnam are also particularly sensitive to depictions of the South China Sea in maps.

The Barbie movie from last year was prohibited in Vietnam and censored in the Philippine release for showing a South China Sea map with the nine dash line.

The statement from customs authorities did not specify where the seized maps were planned for distribution. The country provides much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to office supplies.

The confiscation of "violating charts" by China's border authorities is not uncommon - though the amount of the maps seized in the Shandong region easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Merchandise that do not meet standards at the customs are eliminated.

In March, customs officers at an airport in the coastal city confiscated a shipment of one hundred forty-three navigation charts that included "clear mistakes" in the territorial boundaries.

In August, customs officers in the northern province confiscated a pair of "problematic maps" that, besides other problems, featured a "misdrawing" of the Tibet's boundaries.