🔗 Share this article China seizes 60,000 cartographic materials for 'incorrectly labeling' the island of Taiwan Customs officers intercepted a batch of maps bound for export, which they deemed "problematic" Customs authorities in China in the coastal province of Shandong have confiscated 60,000 maps that "improperly identified" the self-ruled island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities claims as part of its territory. The maps, authorities said, also "left out 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, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, customs representatives stated. Maps 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 stated that the maps also did not contain the nine-dash boundary, which outlines Beijing's claim over the vast majority of the South China Sea. The line comprises nine segments which stretches hundreds of miles southeastern direction from its most southerly province of Hainan. The intercepted cartographic items also omitted the oceanic demarcation between China and Japan, customs representatives stated. Taiwan Status Authorities said the maps improperly identified "Taiwan province", without detailing what exactly the mislabelling was. China considers self-governed Taiwan as its sovereign land and has not ruled out the use of military action to unify with the island. But Taiwanese authorities considers itself separate from the mainland China, with its own governing document and democratically-elected leaders. Geopolitical Disputes Disputes in the South China Sea flare up occasionally - most recently over the weekend, when ships from Chinese authorities and the Philippine government were involved in another incident. Manila alleged a Chinese vessel of intentionally colliding with and using water cannons at a official Philippine ship. But Chinese officials said the incident happened after the vessel from the Philippines ignored repeated warnings and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship. Previous Similar Cases The Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities are also particularly sensitive to representations of the South China Sea in cartographic materials. The 2023 Barbie film from 2023 was prohibited in Vietnam and edited in the Philippines for displaying a maritime chart with the nine-segment boundary. The declaration from customs authorities did not say where the confiscated materials were planned for distribution. The country supplies much of the international products, from holiday decorations to office supplies. The seizure of "problematic maps" by customs officials is relatively common - though the quantity of the maps intercepted in the Shandong region substantially surpasses earlier interceptions. Merchandise that are non-compliant at the border control are destroyed. In March, border authorities at an airport in the coastal city seized a batch of one hundred forty-three navigation charts that contained "apparent inaccuracies" in the territorial boundaries. In late summer, border authorities in the northern province confiscated a pair of "problematic maps" that, among other things, contained a "improper representation" of the Tibet's boundaries.