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Chinese customs officers in the coastal province of Shandong have seized 60,000 maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its sovereign land.

The maps, authorities said, also "left out important islands" in the South China Sea, where Beijing's claims clash with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities.

The "violating" maps, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "threaten national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of China, officials confirmed.

Cartographic materials are a contentious issue for China and its regional competitors for reefs, maritime features and rock formations in the disputed maritime region.

Specific Compliance Issues

China Customs said that the maps also failed to include the nine-segment line, which defines Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea.

The line comprises nine dashes which extends hundreds of miles southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan.

The intercepted cartographic items also omitted the maritime boundary between mainland China and Japan, customs representatives stated.

Cross-Strait Situation

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

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

Geopolitical Disputes

Conflicts in the disputed maritime region flare up occasionally - just recently over the weekend, when maritime craft from Chinese authorities and the Philippines participated in another confrontation.

Philippine authorities alleged a China's maritime craft of intentionally colliding with and firing its water cannon at a official Philippine ship.

But Chinese officials claimed the encounter happened after the Philippine vessel failed to heed continual notices and "moved perilously near" the Chinese vessel.

Previous Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnamese authorities are also highly vigilant to portrayals of the South China Sea in cartographic materials.

The Barbie movie from last year was banned in Vietnam and censored in the Philippine release for displaying a maritime chart with the nine dash line.

The statement from China Customs did not specify where the seized maps were intended to be sold. The country provides much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The confiscation of "non-compliant cartographic materials" by Chinese customs officers is frequently occurring - though the quantity of the maps confiscated in Shandong significantly exceeds earlier interceptions. Merchandise that do not meet standards at the customs are disposed of.

In March, customs officers at an air transportation hub in Qingdao seized a batch of one hundred forty-three navigation charts that included "clear mistakes" in the sovereign limits.

In August, border authorities in the northern province intercepted two "violating cartographic materials" that, besides other problems, included a "improper representation" of the Tibet's boundaries.