China criticizes NBC Olympics broadcast for “incomplete map” Reuters

SHANGHAI (Reuters)-China criticized NBC Universal for displaying an “incomplete map” in its broadcast of the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. Previously, the map displayed by Chinese athletes when they arrived did not include Taiwan or the South China Sea.

The Chinese Consulate General in New York posted on its official Weibo (NASDAQ:) social media platform on Saturday, stating that such displays “have hurt the dignity and emotions of the Chinese people”.

Comcast’s NBC, which owns the rights to broadcast the U.S. Olympics, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent through its official contact page.

The Chinese consulate did not specify the reasons for opposing the map, but said: “We urge NBC to recognize the seriousness of this problem and take steps to correct the error.”

China’s official-controlled “Global Times” also criticized the Olympic broadcast and the display of maps.

In recent years, the map’s reference to autonomous Taiwan and the controversial South China Sea has caused controversy. Johns Hopkins University overturned the decision to show Taiwan as part of China on the map last year to indicate the spread of the coronavirus.

Two years ago, American retailer Gap Inc (NYSE:) apologized for selling a T-shirt that claimed that the map of China was incorrect. A picture posted on social media shows that there is no Taiwan Island or South China Sea on this T-shirt.