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

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "failed to include important islands" in the South China Sea, where China's territorial assertions conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnamese authorities.

The "non-compliant" 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.

Maps are a delicate subject for Chinese authorities and its rivals for reefs, islands and outcrops in the disputed maritime region.

Detailed Violations

Customs authorities explained that the maps also omitted the nine-dash line, which outlines Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The line comprises nine lines which stretches numerous nautical miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.

The confiscated materials also failed to indicate the sea border between China and the Japanese archipelago, customs representatives stated.

Taiwan Status

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

China sees self-ruled Taiwan as its sovereign land and has not ruled out the use of military action to unify with the island. But Taiwan views itself as different from the mainland China, with its own constitution and popularly chosen officials.

Geopolitical Tensions

Conflicts in the South China Sea periodically escalate - most recently over the weekend, when ships from China and the Philippines participated in another incident.

Manila accused a Chinese vessel of deliberately ramming and firing its water cannon at a Philippine government vessel.

But Chinese officials stated the confrontation happened after the Philippine ship failed to heed continual notices and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship.

Previous Similar Cases

The Philippine government and Vietnam are also especially concerned to portrayals of the disputed maritime region in maps.

The Barbie movie from last year was banned in the Vietnamese market and edited in the Philippine release for showing a South China Sea map with the controversial demarcation.

The announcement from China Customs did not specify where the intercepted items were planned for distribution. China supplies much of the international products, from Christmas lights to office supplies.

The confiscation of "problematic maps" by customs officials is not uncommon - though the quantity of the maps confiscated in the Shandong region substantially surpasses previous confiscations. Goods that are non-compliant at the customs are disposed of.

In spring, border authorities at an airport in the coastal city seized a shipment of 143 navigation charts that included "obvious errors" in the sovereign limits.

In August, customs officers in Hebei province confiscated a pair of "non-compliant charts" that, in addition to other issues, featured a "incorrect depiction" of the Tibetan border.