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

The maps, authorities said, also "omitted important islands" in the South China Sea, where Beijing's claims conflict with those of its regional neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The "violating" maps, c intended for foreign distribution, cannot be sold because they "compromise national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the People's Republic of China, customs representatives stated.

Cartographic materials are a delicate subject for Chinese authorities and its rivals for reefs, maritime features and rock formations in the South China Sea.

Specific Violations

Customs authorities said that the maps also omitted the nine-segment line, which outlines Beijing's claim over the vast majority of the South China Sea.

The line comprises nine lines which stretches numerous nautical miles southeastern direction from its southern province of Hainan.

The intercepted cartographic items also did not mark the sea border between China and Japan, customs representatives stated.

Cross-Strait Status

Customs representatives explained the maps improperly identified "the Taiwan region", without detailing what exactly the improper identification was.

China sees self-governed Taiwan as its sovereign land 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 popularly chosen officials.

Regional Tensions

Conflicts in the disputed maritime region sometimes intensify - most recently over the weekend, when vessels from Chinese authorities and the Philippine government were involved in another encounter.

Philippine authorities accused a Chinese ship of purposefully hitting and using water cannons at a government-owned Philippine craft.

But Chinese officials stated the confrontation happened after the vessel from the Philippines ignored repeated warnings and "came too close to" the China's maritime craft.

Historical Similar Cases

The Philippines and Vietnamese authorities are also particularly sensitive to representations of the disputed maritime region in maps.

The Barbie movie from last year was prohibited in Vietnam and censored in the Philippines for showing a maritime chart with the nine-segment boundary.

The announcement from customs authorities did not say where the seized maps were destined for sale. China supplies much of the world's goods, from holiday decorations to stationery.

The seizure of "violating charts" by customs officials is not uncommon - though the number of the maps seized in the Shandong region easily eclipses previous confiscations. Merchandise that do not meet standards at the customs are disposed of.

In March, border authorities at an air transportation hub in Qingdao intercepted a shipment of one hundred forty-three navigation charts that featured "apparent inaccuracies" in the territorial boundaries.

In August, border authorities in the northern province confiscated a pair of "violating cartographic materials" that, besides other problems, featured a "improper representation" of the Tibetan border.