China confiscates sixty thousand cartographic materials for 'mislabelling' Taiwan

Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have seized sixty thousand maps that "mislabelled" the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

The maps, customs representatives explained, also "failed to include important islands" in the South China Sea, where China's territorial assertions conflict with those of its neighbors, including the Philippine government and Vietnam.

The "non-compliant" 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, customs representatives stated.

Maps are a contentious issue for Chinese authorities and its regional competitors for coral formations, maritime features and rock formations in the disputed maritime region.

Specific Violations

Customs authorities explained that the maps also did not contain the nine-segment line, which demarcates Beijing's claim over the vast majority of the South China Sea.

The line comprises nine lines which runs a significant distance southeastward from its southern province of Hainan Island.

The intercepted cartographic items also failed to indicate the sea border between mainland China and Japan, officials confirmed.

Cross-Strait Status

Customs representatives explained the maps mislabelled "Taiwan province", without clarifying what exactly the improper identification was.

China views self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to unify with the island. But Taiwanese authorities considers itself separate from the mainland China, with its own constitution and popularly chosen officials.

Regional Disputes

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

Manila accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming and firing its water cannon at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Beijing said the incident happened after the vessel from the Philippines disregarded multiple alerts and "dangerously approached" the Chinese ship.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnam are also particularly sensitive to portrayals of the South China Sea in maps.

The 2023 Barbie film from last year was banned in Vietnam and edited in the Philippine release for depicting a maritime chart with the nine dash line.

The declaration from customs authorities did not indicate where the intercepted items were destined for sale. The country produces much of the world's goods, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The interception of "violating charts" by China's border authorities is not uncommon - though the quantity of the maps seized in the Shandong region easily eclipses earlier interceptions. Goods that do not meet standards at the border control are disposed of.

In March, border authorities at an airport in the coastal city intercepted a batch of one hundred forty-three navigation charts that featured "clear mistakes" in the sovereign limits.

In late summer, border authorities in Hebei province seized two "non-compliant charts" that, in addition to other issues, included a "improper representation" of the Tibet's boundaries.