TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) on Wednesday (June 12) told Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) to “read up on the history” after he referred to Taiwan as an important country last month.
TAO spokesperson Chen Binhua (陳斌華) claimed that Chinese netizens have “expressed strong disapproval of Huang's wrong remarks," reported China's state-run Global Times. He repeated Beijing's claim that both sides of the Taiwan Strait, including the “island of Taiwan” are part of China.
Chen alleged that "historical context and legal facts support this and are crystal clear." He denied Taiwan's past or present existence as a country and claimed, “It is a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations.”
Chen hoped that “Huang would read up on the history concerning the Taiwan question.”
When asked about Taiwan during an impromptu interview at the Linjiang Night Market in Taipei's Da'an District on May 29, Huang said, “Taiwan is one of the most important countries in the world." He added, "It is at the center of the electronics industry."
China's state-run media and netizens swiftly decried Huang's use of the word “country.” Chinese online media outlet Guancha demanded Huang give Chinese people and companies an explanation and said Chinese firms cannot do business with firms that support Taiwan's independence.
As he left his hotel to catch a flight departing Taipei on June 8, Huang was asked to comment on Chinese criticism of his description of Taiwan as a country. Huang said, "I wasn't making a geopolitical comment, but thanking all of our technology partners here for all their support and contributions to the industry."