Customs officers at Da Nang’s International Airport found and seized 2 Chinese maps which showed the East Sea area with the “nine-dash" or "nine-dotted” line printed on them.

The 110cm x 150cm maps belonged to 27-year-old Xing Shanshan, a Chinese passenger arriving in the city last Thursday evening on flight MU7007 from Beijing, China.  Apart from the “nine-dash" or "nine-dotted” line, the maps featured Viet Nam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos called by their Chinese names, Xisha and Nansha.

The Chinese maps with the “nine-dash" or "nine-dotted” line (Source: VNexpress)

On the same day, customs officers also seized 16 travel guidebooks with incorrect maps of Viet Nam printed on their 2^nd page.  They were found whilst officers were handling the entry procedures for a Chinese visitor, 43-year-old Chen Jian Long, who had arrived on flight CZ3037 from Guangzhou, China.  The 32-page booklet showcases the city’s popular tourist attractions, but the 2^nd page shows a map of Viet Nam without the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, which are integral parts of our national territory.