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Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have confiscated 60,000 maps that "improperly identified" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities considers part of its sovereign land.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "left out important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where Beijing's claims conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities.

The "non-compliant" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, authorities said.

Maps are a delicate subject for China and its regional competitors for coral formations, islands and rock formations in the disputed maritime region.

Detailed Violations

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

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

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

Cross-Strait Situation

Customs representatives explained the maps improperly identified "the Taiwan region", without detailing what exactly the incorrect labeling was.

The Chinese government considers 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 different from the mainland China, with its own governing document and popularly chosen officials.

Geopolitical Disputes

Disputes in the South China Sea flare up occasionally - in recent days over the weekend, when vessels from Chinese authorities and the Philippine government participated in another confrontation.

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

But Beijing stated the confrontation happened after the vessel from the Philippines failed to heed continual notices and "dangerously approached" the Chinese vessel.

Previous Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnam are also highly vigilant to representations of the South China Sea in maps.

The popular motion picture from last year was prohibited in Vietnam and edited in the Philippine release for displaying a maritime chart with the nine-segment boundary.

The announcement from China Customs did not specify where the seized maps were planned for distribution. China produces much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The interception of "non-compliant cartographic materials" by customs officials is relatively common - though the number of the maps confiscated in the Shandong region easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Products that fail inspection at the border control are destroyed.

In March, border authorities at an airport in the coastal city seized a batch of 143 nautical charts that featured "clear mistakes" in the territorial boundaries.

In August, border authorities in Hebei province intercepted a pair of "non-compliant charts" that, among other things, included a "incorrect depiction" of the Tibet's boundaries.