Chinese customs officials in eastern Shandong province have intercepted 60,000 maps that incorrectly identified Taiwan, which Beijing asserts as its territory. The confiscated maps also failed to include several key islands in the South China Sea, areas subject to competing claims by neighboring nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam.
According to authorities, these “problematic” maps, intended for export, cannot be distributed as they allegedly compromise China’s national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Maps have long been a contentious issue, particularly concerning China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, often represented by the ‘nine-dash line’.
The maps in question notably omitted this nine-dash line and did not clearly demarcate the maritime boundary between China and Japan. The specific inaccuracies regarding Taiwan’s depiction were not detailed, but China’s firm stance on Taiwan’s status as a province remains a significant geopolitical point.
The seizure is part of a broader pattern of customs officials identifying and confiscating goods deemed to violate national regulations. While such seizures are not uncommon, the sheer volume of maps confiscated in this instance in Shandong province is particularly noteworthy. In previous incidents, maps with inaccuracies concerning national borders and the Tibetan border have also been seized.
The South China Sea remains a focal point of regional tensions, with recent encounters between Chinese and Philippine vessels underscoring the fragility of maritime security in the area. Manila has accused Beijing of aggressive actions, while Beijing maintains its vessels were operating within their rights.
The Philippines and Vietnam have previously taken action against media depicting disputed territories, as seen with the movie ‘Barbie’ being banned in Vietnam and censored in the Philippines for its inclusion of a map featuring the nine-dash line.
Related articles
-
What is the South China Sea dispute?
-
Sabina Shoal: The new flashpoint between China and the Philippines
-
‘Close enough to see their faces’: Chased down by China in South China Sea
More from the BBC
-
Government under pressure to release China spy case evidence
-
Tories seek to keep up pressure over collapsed China spy case
-
What tariffs has Trump announced and why?
-
Trump tariffs on kitchen cabinets and lumber come into force
-
The controversy over the collapsed China spy case explained