đź”— Share this article China confiscates 60,000 maps for 'mislabelling' Taiwan Border authorities intercepted a shipment of maps destined for overseas markets, which they deemed "violating regulations" Customs authorities in China in eastern Shandong province have intercepted 60,000 maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities considers part of its territory. The maps, officials stated, also "failed to include important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where China's territorial assertions clash with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnamese authorities. The "non-compliant" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, 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 delicate subject for Chinese authorities and its rivals for reefs, maritime features and rock formations in the disputed maritime region. Specific Compliance Issues Customs authorities explained that the maps also failed to include the nine-dash line, which outlines Beijing's claim over almost the whole South China Sea. The line comprises nine lines which runs a significant distance south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan. The intercepted cartographic items also did not mark the sea border between China and Japan, officials confirmed. Taiwan Status Customs representatives explained the maps mislabelled "the Taiwan region", without specifying what exactly the improper identification was. The Chinese government sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has kept open the possibility of the use of military action to unify with the island. But Taiwan views itself as different from the mainland China, with its own governing document and democratically-elected leaders. Regional Disputes Tensions in the disputed maritime region periodically escalate - most recently over the weekend, when ships from China and the Philippines were involved in another confrontation. Philippine authorities accused a Chinese vessel of purposefully hitting and using water cannons at a government-owned Philippine craft. But Beijing stated the incident happened after the Philippine ship ignored repeated warnings and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship. Historical Similar Cases The Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities are also especially concerned to representations of the disputed maritime region in maps. The popular motion picture from last year was banned in the Vietnamese market and censored in the Philippine release for showing a South China Sea map with the controversial demarcation. The announcement from China Customs did not indicate where the intercepted items were destined for sale. The country produces much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to stationery. The confiscation of "violating charts" by customs officials is relatively common - though the number of the maps seized in the Shandong region easily eclipses previous confiscations. Goods that are non-compliant at the customs are disposed of. In spring, border authorities at an air transportation hub in the coastal city seized a batch of 143 navigation charts that contained "clear mistakes" in the sovereign limits. In August, customs officers in the northern province confiscated a pair of "non-compliant charts" that, in addition to other issues, included a "misdrawing" of the Tibet's boundaries.