Chinese authorities have confiscated maps that omit important islands in the South China Sea, considering them a threat to national sovereignty.

Chinese authorities have confiscated maps intended for export, considering them "problematic" because they omit important islands in the South China Sea, where Beijing has territorial claims that overlap with those of neighbors like the Philippines and Vietnam. The maps did not include the line with new dotted lines, which delineates China's claim over most of the sea, and did not mark the maritime border with Japan.

Additionally, the incorrect labeling of the "province of Taiwan" was another reason for confiscation, given that China considers Taiwan part of its territory. Tensions in the area have recently been highlighted by confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels. The confiscation of maps is not new, and Chinese authorities have had similar incidents in the past, destroying goods that did not comply with regulations.