The Republic of China is the name for Taiwan – a fact that apparently eludes White House staff.
A formal statement from the White House was issued with a very public error – mixing up China and Taiwan.
A press release following Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit called him president “of the Republic of China”.
That is the official name of Taiwan. Mr Xi is, in fact, President of the People’s Republic of China.
Earlier, the White House had also labelled Shinzo Abe president of Japan. He is the prime minister.
The online version of the statement on China now simply refers to “President Xi of China”, and the Japan statement has also been corrected.
