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Chinese customs officers in the coastal province of Shandong have confiscated sixty thousand maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its sovereign land.

The maps, authorities said, also "left out important islands" in the disputed South China Sea waters, where China's territorial assertions conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The "violating" maps, destined for overseas markets, cannot be sold because they "endanger national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, officials confirmed.

Maps are a contentious issue for Chinese authorities and its regional competitors for reefs, islands and rock formations in the South China Sea.

Detailed Compliance Issues

Customs authorities stated that the maps also did not contain the nine-dash boundary, which outlines China's territorial assertion over almost the whole South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine segments which extends a significant distance southeastern direction from its most southerly province of Hainan Island.

The seized maps also did not mark the oceanic demarcation between mainland China and the Japanese archipelago, officials confirmed.

Taiwan Status

Officials stated the maps mislabelled "the Taiwan region", without detailing what exactly the incorrect labeling was.

China considers self-ruled Taiwan as its sovereign land and has not ruled out the use of military action to take the island. But Taiwanese authorities sees itself as separate from the mainland China, with its own governing document and popularly chosen officials.

Regional Disputes

Conflicts in the disputed maritime region sometimes intensify - most recently over the weekend, when ships from China and the Philippines participated in another confrontation.

Manila alleged a Chinese vessel of purposefully hitting and firing its water cannon at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Chinese officials said the confrontation happened after the Philippine vessel failed to heed continual notices and "came too close to" the Chinese vessel.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnam are also particularly sensitive to representations of the South China Sea in cartographic materials.

The popular motion picture from last year was banned in the Vietnamese market and modified in the Philippine release for showing a South China Sea map with the nine dash line.

The announcement from customs authorities did not say where the seized maps were planned for distribution. The country provides much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The seizure of "violating charts" by customs officials is relatively common - though the amount of the maps confiscated in Shandong substantially surpasses past seizures. Merchandise that fail inspection at the customs are destroyed.

In March, customs officers at an airport in Qingdao confiscated a batch of 143 marine maps that contained "apparent inaccuracies" in the territorial boundaries.

In late summer, border authorities in the northern province confiscated two "violating cartographic materials" that, among other things, included a "improper representation" of the Tibet's boundaries.