Chinese customs officers in eastern Shandong province have seized 60,000 maps that mislabelled the self-governed island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory.
The maps, authorities said, also omitted important islands in the South China Sea, where Beijing's claims overlap with those of its neighbours, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
The problematic maps, meant for export, cannot be sold because they endanger national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, authorities stated.
Maps are a sensitive topic for China and its rivals for reefs, islands and outcrops in the South China Sea.
China Customs reported that the maps did not contain the nine-dash line, which demarcates Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea—a claim that has been contested by several neighboring nations.
Authorities noted the maps incorrectly labelled Taiwan province without specifying the exact nature of the mislabelling.
China considers self-ruled Taiwan its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island; however, Taiwan sees itself as a separate entity with its own constitution.
Tensions in the South China Sea continue to flare, most recently highlighted by an encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels that led to accusations from Manila against a Chinese ship for aggressive moves.
The Philippines and Vietnam are particularly sensitive to depictions of the South China Sea in maps. Past controversies, including elements portrayed in the 2023 Barbie movie, led to bans and censorship in various countries for showing contentious territory claims.
The statement from China Customs did not disclose where the seized maps were intended for sale, although China is a major producer of various global goods. Seizures of problematic maps by customs are not unusual, but this volume is notably high compared to previous instances. In March, a batch of 143 nautical charts was also seized for errors in national borders.
