Chinese customs authorities in Shandong province have reportedly confiscated 60,000 maps intended for export, citing “serious mistakes” in the depiction of Taiwan and the South China Sea. Reports suggest these maps may have identified Taiwan as an independent nation, contrary to Beijing’s claims.
Officials stated the maps failed to correctly mark Taiwan, which China considers a province despite the island’s self-governing status, and omitted several disputed islands in the South China Sea. The products were described as “problematic” and deemed to endanger national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Beijing requires all maps published or distributed in China, including those for overseas sale, to adhere to its official territorial claims, including the nine-dash line asserting sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea. The seized maps reportedly lacked the nine-dash line and failed to mark the maritime boundary between China and Japan. Authorities also stated Taiwan had been “mislabelled”, without providing further details.
Taiwan, with its own democratically elected government, military, currency, and constitution, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims. China maintains that the island is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to assert control.
The South China Sea continues to be a major flashpoint, with frequent clashes between China and other regional nations. The latest incident involved a Chinese vessel reportedly ramming and spraying water at a Philippine government ship.
