For immediate release

Wednesday October 12, 2005, Toronto, Ontario, Canada - The Formosan Association for Public Affairs Canada (FAPA Canada) lauded Google's decision to remove the words "province of China" from its map of Taiwan. The correction followed protests from the Taiwanese government and a large number of Taiwanese community members. "We applaud Google's decision to remove the incorrect label from the map of Taiwan," said Dr. Harry Chen, president of FAPA Canada. "Taiwan has never been ruled nor administered by the People's Republic of China."

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had filed an official protest to Google about the label. Large numbers of Taiwanese, both on Taiwan and living overseas, also voiced their displeasure with Taiwan being referred to as a province of China to Google.

"Calling Taiwan a province of China denigrates its status and is an insult to the Taiwanese people," continued Chen. "More and more people are becoming aware of the reality that Taiwan is an independent, sovereign nation."

For more information please contact:
Harry Chen
48 Teddington Ave.
Markham, Ontario, Canada
L3R 6T5
(905) 475-0492
president@fapacanada.org