East Michigan News

Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China and Senator Marsha Blackburn have addressed a letter to the CEOs of Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt Hotels. The correspondence expresses concerns over the hotels' use of "Taiwan, China" in their online and promotional content.

The lawmakers argue that this terminology contradicts U.S. policy and supports the Chinese Communist Party's claims over Taiwan. They assert, "The current practice, with implicit reference to Taiwan being a part of China, stands in stark contrast to the position of the United States government—to the detriment of Taiwan, a thriving democracy and one of America’s top trading partners."

The letter also cites a communication from October 2024 by the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and State urging Fortune 500 companies to refer to Taiwan simply as "Taiwan," consistent with longstanding U.S. policy across administrations.

The letter further states: "Using terminology such as ‘Taiwan, China,’ gives false credence to the PRC’s position of authority and sovereignty over Taiwan and implies that Taiwan is the property of the PRC." It highlights that this practice not only contradicts U.S. policy but also undermines Taiwan's democratic system.

Moolenaar and Blackburn are urging these hotel chains to revise their language concerning Taiwan across all platforms. They have posed three questions for response: whether this decision was influenced by the Chinese government; if they will correct it; and if they will commit to referring to Taiwan accurately as "Taiwan."

The letter concludes with an appeal for Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt to align their language with long-standing U.S. policy on both U.S. and Taiwan-hosted websites.