TAIWAN: Taiwan's province tag follows conventions, says Google

Taiwan protest's Google's description of Taiwan as a province of China

The Straits Times
Thursday, October 6, 2005

Taipei --- Google, the most-used Internet search engine, said its description of Taiwan as a province of China is consistent with international naming conventions such as those followed by the United Nations.

Google faces protests from Taiwan's government because of the description, which is used on its map service.

The island's Foreign Ministry has instructed its US representative office to ask Google to correct the listing, said deputy director-general David Wang at the ministry in Taipei.

'We rely on international naming conventions to find a consistent policy,' said Ms Debbie Frost, a spokesman for the company based in Mountain View, California.

Taiwan has repeatedly sought entry to the United Nations, which recognises China's sovereignty over the island.

China, which has diplomatic ties with many more countries than Taiwan, considers Taiwan a renegade province.

But Mr Wang said: 'We hope Google will respect the fact that Taiwan is an independent state and not a province of China.'

Date Posted: 10/6/2005