Working with people that have different views in geopolitics

Question

Our company outsources a lot of ODM and some OEM design with companies in China (and sometimes Taiwan). The views of China's recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign state is different than many Western countries including mine (the United States). We also have an office in Taiwan that goes to China from time to time as a "diplomat" and they discuss our goals in the manufacturing process.

Is there a way to mention the name of "Taiwan" without sounding insensitive to what the Chinese believe? The Chinese call Taiwan as the "Republic of China" or "Taiwan, China" but we simply call them "Taiwan", implying that they have independence from mainland China.

Answer 1

As you've found, Taiwan is a VERY sensitive subject for China. The situation is both political and ethnic for the Chinese mainland, and very complicated.

If you want to avoid the situation entirely, refer to your office in Taiwan by the name of the location within Taiwan, and don't refer to the nation at all. That way, you avoid offending both the Chinese and the Taiwanese.

Answer 2

Dissenting opinion to the top voted answer from Richard U

I have never found this to be a problem at all.

Many of the larger Chinese Manufacturing companies such as Foxconn are actually headquartered in Taiwan and a lot the engineering and senior management staff is from Taiwan and travels back and forth a lot.

So if you sit in a meeting room and ask "hey, what are you doing on the weekend", it's perfectly normal to get the answer "I'm going home to Taiwan".

Taiwan is talked about frequently and I have never heard anyone (Chinese or otherwise) refer to it other than simply "Taiwan".

Answer 3

I've worked, and work, constantly with Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese. It's not a problem unless you, or they, want to make it a problem.

Calling it Taiwan is absolutely fine since they'll take it however they wanted it. Maybe Taiwan (as a country), or Taiwan (as People's Republic of China, Taiwan Province). No one refers to them as "name province".

Answer 4

Noteworthy is that, in my experiences dealing with Chinese-nationals (in Canada, my locale), most of them do not care if I say "Taiwan", and usually they will themselves refer to Taiwan as "Taiwan" when speaking in English (I don't know what they say in Chinese to each other because I don't speak Chinese). If you are dealing with Chinese individuals and not the Chinese government, it's probably not an issue to refer to Taiwan as "Taiwan"; as with most dictatorships or dictatorship-esque countries (of which China is one), the opinions of the populace tend to be very opposite the official positions of the leadership.

There's nothing wrong with saying "Taipei" as suggested in Richard U's answer; I'm simply making note that this might not be nearly as big of an issue as you're making it out to be.

Answer 5

TL;DR: Just refer to it as "Taiwan" and never user the term "Republic of China"

Is there a way to mention the name of "Taiwan" without sounding insensitive to what the Chinese believe? The Chinese call Taiwan as the "Republic of China" or "Taiwan, China" but we simply call them "Taiwan", implying that they have independence from mainland China.

I think you got this wrong. "Taiwan" is the name of the Island and informally refers to the modern day "Republic of China" because of the territory the RoC controls. Officially the RoC claims the Chinese mainland which is controlled by the People's Republic of China (or just 'China' for most people).

There is nothing controversial about saying that Taipei belongs to Taiwan, neither for mainland Chinese nor for Taiwanese. This is just a geographic truth and doesn't imply independence.

Chinese people usually don't refer to Taiwan as "Republic of China" and it would probably be seen as offensive to use it outside of a historical context.

Answer 6

Checking from names who answered this question I think I should answer it b/c I am Mainland Chinese. I am from a province that speaks the same dialect as Taiwanese and I can easily tell from their accents whether they are Taiwanese or mainland Chinese.

From my experience I feel Taiwanese is much more sensitive than Mainland Chinese. They don't like it when you say "Taiwan, China" (as if you say "Taiwan, part of China" and emphasize the latter part), they prefer just "Taiwan". Most of my friends don't mind at all whether you call it "China Taiwan" or "Taiwan China" or "Taipei” or just "Taiwan". We just call it Taiwan.

So I don't agree with the accepted answer from Retired Codger saying "Taiwan is a VERY sensitive subject for China". I assume he meant Mainland China there and I would correct that statement by it is very sensitive subject for the governments of both sides, for the party of mainland China and the party controlled media. But ordinary people on the mainland, I dare to say no many care! I do not care. OK I will agree that "wumao" cares if you know what that means.

I think @Malisbad's answer is more accurate and relevant " It's not a problem unless you, or they, want to make it a problem... Just call Taiwan"

One more thing, when you refer to the people, like "Chinese" or "Taiwanese" (especially say it in Chinese) it could be sensitive sometime. I know some "Taiwanese" don't like to be called "Chinese" while for our mainland Chinese, even though we don't mind just call the place "Taiwan" but if you don't think you are "Chinese" we will be angry.

I consider myself quite open minded regarding this issue. But I am quite angry when I see Taiwanese (and Hong kong people sometime) think they are "superior" to us. I just don't understand where does that sense of superiority come from.

------- update -------

For the downvoter if you rather trust the answer from outsiders instead of the native, fine. I don't mind either.

From the comments I got I did realize that because you can not tell whether people are from Taiwan or Mainland and you can not tell whether they care or not you better err on the side of caution. Almost like you should not discuss about religion if you don't know people well.

But no matter what it is safe to just call it "Taiwan". If you still want to be extremely cautious about mentioning Taiwan and Mainland China together, you can say Great China Region

Again, from my own experience when you mention Great China Region, people know you are fully aware of the situation and they know you already take cautious action, they will appreciate it.