Japanese Company Recalls Globes

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | The New York Times
January 10, 2008

A Japanese educational company is recalling 10,000 electronic talking globes after customers complained that self-governing Taiwan was labeled a part of the People's Republic of China.

The ''Smart Globe'' sold by Tokyo-based Gakken calls Taiwan -- which split from communist China amid civil war in 1949 -- ''Taiwan Island'' and says it comes under the jurisdiction of Beijing, the company said in a statement Thursday.

An electronic voice also tells users pointing to Taiwan that the island is part of the People's Republic of China, the official name of the Chinese communist regime, according to Gakken spokesman Satoru Aihara.

He said Gakken's Chinese manufacturer had refused to produce the globes -- which are sold only in Japan -- unless Taiwan was labeled as a Chinese region.

''Selling these globes was a serious error on our part,'' Aihara said. ''Unfortunately we let cost considerations override sound judgment.''

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