Beijing: Chinese authorities have confiscated around 60,000 maps in eastern Shandong province, claiming they contained “errors” that challenged the country’s territorial claims. Officials said the maps misrepresented Taiwan and omitted several islands that China considers part of its territory, including those in the South China Sea.
According to customs officers in Huangdao, the seized maps were intended for export but were found to violate national regulations on cartographic publications. The maps reportedly failed to show Taiwan as part of China and left out the “nine-dash line” that Beijing uses to assert sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. Authorities also said some maps did not include the Diaoyu Islands, which are disputed between China and Japan.
In a statement, the customs department said such “problematic maps” could harm China’s national unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and therefore could not be allowed to circulate domestically or internationally. The maps lacked an official approval code from the Ministry of Natural Resources, which reviews and authorizes all maps before publication or export.
The incident underscores Beijing’s strict control over how its territory is represented, particularly concerning Taiwan and disputed maritime regions. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any representation that treats the island as a separate nation.
Similar actions have occurred in the past. In 2022, customs officials in Zhejiang province seized more than 20,000 maps for comparable reasons, reflecting China’s ongoing campaign to prevent any depiction that contradicts its official boundaries.
Analysts say the move highlights how maps have become a political tool in Asia’s territorial disputes, especially as tensions rise in the South China Sea, where China’s claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, and other countries. The seizure also signals Beijing’s determination to ensure that its version of geography aligns with its political stance on sovereignty.