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Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have seized 60,000 maps that "improperly identified" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Chinese authorities claims as part of its territory.

The maps, officials stated, also "failed to include important islands" in the South China Sea, where Beijing's claims conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnamese authorities.

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

Maps are a sensitive topic for China and its rivals for reefs, maritime features and rock formations in the disputed maritime region.

Detailed Violations

Customs authorities explained that the maps also omitted the nine-segment line, which demarcates China's territorial assertion over almost the whole South China Sea.

The boundary consists of nine segments which extends hundreds of miles southeastern direction from its southernmost province of Hainan.

The seized maps also failed to indicate the oceanic demarcation between mainland China and Japan, officials confirmed.

Cross-Strait Situation

Authorities said the maps mislabelled "Taiwan province", without detailing 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 military action to take the island. But Taiwan sees itself as separate from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.

Geopolitical Disputes

Disputes in the South China Sea periodically escalate - just recently over the weekend, when vessels from China and the Philippines were involved in another encounter.

Manila alleged a Chinese vessel of intentionally colliding with and deploying water jets at a official Philippine ship.

But Chinese officials claimed the incident happened after the Philippine vessel disregarded multiple alerts and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship.

Previous Precedents

The Philippine government and Vietnam are also particularly sensitive to representations of the disputed maritime region in maps.

The Barbie movie from last year was banned in Vietnam and modified in the Philippines for depicting a South China Sea map with the controversial demarcation.

The declaration from customs authorities did not specify where the intercepted items were intended to be sold. China provides much of the global merchandise, from holiday decorations to office supplies.

The seizure of "violating charts" by Chinese customs officers is frequently occurring - though the quantity of the maps confiscated in Shandong significantly exceeds previous confiscations. Goods that fail inspection at the border control are destroyed.

In spring, border authorities at an air transportation hub in the coastal city confiscated a shipment of 143 nautical charts that contained "apparent inaccuracies" in the national borders.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province intercepted two "violating cartographic materials" that, besides other problems, contained a "incorrect depiction" of the Tibet's boundaries.