China fines 7-Eleven USD 7,800 for calling Taiwan a country. What happened?
Just when you thought that the news from East Asia could not surprise you anymore, the Beijing municipal government has raised a 50,000 yuan (US $7,842) worth fine against 7-Eleven. The government has fined and issued a warning against the American convenience store chain for listing Taiwan as a country on their website, and displaying maps with what China calls incorrect borders for Xinjiang and Tibet.
The government also said that the 7-Eleven website had failed to use China’s name for some disputed islands in the South China Sea. This included the Japanese-administered Senkakus, which the Chinese call the Diaoyu islands. A spokesman from Seven & I Holdings Co (7-Eleven's operating company in China) said that the company "is taking the issue seriously and making sure to prevent a recurrence".
China is widely known to be hypersensitive of any reference to Taiwan being a soverign nation. Previously, Gap Inc, Daimler AG, United Continental Holdings Inc and ANA Holdings Inc have apologised and/or changed their websites over the same reason. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory. Due to the profits they earn, companies usually end up complying with the country's bizzare demand as a part of the cost of doing business in China.
The country's demand is not just limited to companies, but also celebrities. In May 2021, famed wrestler John Cena who also stars in the blockbuster film, Fast & Furious 9 had to release a video apologising in Mandarin for calling Taiwan 'a country' in an interview he gave to a Taiwanese broadcaster. Cena said in the video, "I’m very sorry for my mistakes. Sorry. Sorry. I’m really sorry. You have to understand that I love and respect China and Chinese people."
The video was uploaded on his Weibo account.
Seriously, this is hilarious. For those who don’t know, John Cena once storm the world by calling Taiwan a country & his controversial but funny apology to China for calling Taiwan a country. Hilarious!!! pic.twitter.com/2X2cCO2Emf
— greg gepat (@thisisgreggepat) December 31, 2021
After the release of Cena's apology, Chinese state media Global Times praised him for the "timely apology". The publication said that the apology "reveals his willingness to uphold the values of China" and "sets a good example for all Westerners to follow".
Though the 'punishment' to 7-Eleven was issued back in December 2021, it was first reported on January 7 by Asia Nikkei. 7-Eleven convenience stores are widely spread across Asia. In India, the chain made its debut in October 2021. Reliance Retail, as part of a 'master franchise agreement' with 7-Eleven Inc (SEI), launched India's first 7-Eleven store in Mumbai.