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Chinese customs officers in the coastal province of Shandong have confiscated 60,000 maps that "incorrectly labeled" the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its sovereign land.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "omitted important islands" in the South China Sea, where China's territorial assertions overlap with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "non-compliant" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, cannot be sold because they "endanger national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of China, customs representatives stated.

Maps are a contentious issue for China and its regional competitors for coral formations, islands and outcrops in the disputed maritime region.

Specific Violations

China Customs stated that the maps also failed to include the nine-dash boundary, which defines Beijing's claim over almost the whole South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine lines which runs numerous nautical miles southeastward from its most southerly province of Hainan Island.

The seized maps also failed to indicate the oceanic demarcation between China and Japan, authorities said.

Cross-Strait Status

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

The Chinese government sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has maintained the option of the use of force to unify with the island. But Taiwanese authorities sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and popularly chosen officials.

Geopolitical Tensions

Disputes in the South China Sea flare up occasionally - just recently over the weekend, when maritime craft from China and the Philippine government figured in another encounter.

Manila claimed a Chinese vessel of deliberately ramming and firing its water cannon at a official Philippine ship.

But Chinese officials said the confrontation happened after the vessel from the Philippines failed to heed continual notices and "moved perilously near" the China's maritime craft.

Historical Precedents

The Philippines and Vietnamese authorities are also particularly sensitive to depictions of the South China Sea in cartographic materials.

The Barbie movie from last year was banned in Vietnam and censored in the Philippines for depicting a maritime chart with the controversial demarcation.

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

The confiscation of "violating charts" by China's border authorities is relatively common - though the number of the maps confiscated in Shandong significantly exceeds previous confiscations. Goods that are non-compliant at the customs are disposed of.

In March, customs officers at an airport in the coastal city intercepted a shipment of 143 navigation charts that contained "obvious errors" in the sovereign limits.

In late summer, customs officers in Hebei province seized two "problematic maps" that, besides other problems, included a "misdrawing" of the Tibet's boundaries.