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Customs authorities in China in the coastal province of Shandong have confiscated sixty thousand maps that "incorrectly labeled" the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its sovereign land.

The maps, customs representatives explained, 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 Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "problematic" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, cannot be sold because they "endanger national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of China, officials confirmed.

Cartographic materials are a delicate subject for China and its rivals for reefs, islands and outcrops in the disputed maritime region.

Detailed Violations

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

The line comprises nine lines which extends a significant distance southeastward from its southernmost province of Hainan.

The seized maps also omitted the oceanic demarcation between China and Japan, authorities said.

Taiwan Situation

Officials stated the maps incorrectly labeled "Taiwan province", without specifying what exactly the mislabelling was.

The Chinese government views 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 separate from the Chinese mainland, with its own governing document and elected leadership.

Regional Tensions

Disputes in the disputed maritime region sometimes intensify - in recent days over the weekend, when maritime craft from China and the Philippine government participated in another encounter.

Philippine authorities claimed a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming and firing its water cannon at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Beijing stated the confrontation happened after the Philippine ship disregarded multiple alerts and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship.

Historical Precedents

The Philippines and Vietnam are also especially concerned to representations of the disputed maritime region in cartographic materials.

The Barbie movie from last year was prohibited in the Vietnamese market and modified in the Philippine release for depicting a maritime chart with the controversial demarcation.

The statement from China Customs did not say where the confiscated materials were intended to be sold. China supplies much of the international products, from Christmas lights to stationery.

The interception of "violating charts" by customs officials is relatively common - though the quantity of the maps intercepted in the Shandong region significantly exceeds earlier interceptions. Merchandise that are non-compliant at the border control are eliminated.

In spring, customs officers at an air transportation hub in Qingdao confiscated a batch of one hundred forty-three nautical charts that contained "apparent inaccuracies" in the sovereign limits.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province confiscated two "violating cartographic materials" that, in addition to other issues, featured a "improper representation" of the the Tibet region's limits.