TAIWAN: 'Taiwan' added to 'Republic of China' on website

Term added to avoid confusing the island with mainland China, officially known as the 'People's Republic of China'

The Straits Times
Monday, August 1, 2005

Taiwan Presidential Office added the word 'Taiwan' after the island's official title of 'Republic of China' on its website yesterday.
 
A similar move on Taiwanese passports in September 2003 triggered protests from Beijing that Taipei was lurching towards independence.

Since Saturday, visitors to the portal have been greeted with the name 'Republic of China (Taiwan)' rather than just 'Republic of China'.

The move is a bid to avoid foreigners confusing the island with mainland China, officially known as the 'People's Republic of China', a presidential spokesman said.

'We received suggestions from our international friends stating that the name of 'Republic of China' is often mistaken for the 'People's Republic of China',' Mr Chen Wen-tsung was quoted by the Taipei Times as saying.

He said the Presidential Office received many letters from overseas that spoke of Chinese leaders such as former president Jiang Zemin and incumbent president Hu Jintao.

'In order to avoid the unnecessary confusion and inconvenience, we decided to add the word 'Taiwan',' he said.

President Chen Shui-bian cited the same reasons in January 2002 when he announced that 'Taiwan' would be added to the cover of all new Taiwanese passports. The controversial passports were issued in late 2003.

Beijing denounced it as another ploy by Mr Chen in his drive for 'progressive independence' for Taiwan.

Meanwhile, China has expressed strong opposition to the passage of a Bill in the US Congress sanctioning high-level official meetings between the US and Taiwan.

Date Posted: 8/1/2005