Taiwan, Beijing domain name row
China Internet Corp (CIC), a Hong Kong-based firm part-owned by Xinhua, has touched highly sensitive China-Taiwan political nerves and incensed Taiwan legislators and Beijing officials.
A CIC-owned portal carrying the domain name taiwan.com was listed under China, alongside Hong Kong, by Taiwan ISP Chunghuan Co.
Taiwan has been reported to be outraged as the listing could mislead Internet users into thinking Taiwan was governed by Beijing and are now demanding an investigation into whether Chunghuan received Beijing funds.
CIC has drawn criticisms from the Internet communities in both Taiwan and Hong Kong for Xinhua ownership. In a bid to appear less Xinhua-influenced, CIC licensed out the right to use its Taiwan.com domain to Taiwanese CD-Rom firm, CMC Magnetics Corp two weeks ago. CMC had seemed a strange choice as it has no Internet experience.
CIC, which owns the China-focused China.com portal, apparently also has upset Beijing with its moves to appear less pro-Beijing.
This has resulted in the China.com site being blocked in the mainland. According to a report in asia.internet.com, Beijing had the site blocked because of its links to socially and politically 'contaminated' sites.
