A leading Chinese television station, Hunan Television, has tendered an apology for displaying a Chinese map that did not show Taiwan as a part of Mainland China. The incident was reported by the official website of People's Daily, which published a screengrab of the map that was broadcasted on the talent show.

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The talent show aimed at teaching the Chinese language to foreigners was aired on Sunday. It showed a Chinese map during the program that displayed all regions within Mainland China in red color, while Taiwan was shown in white color.

"We feel a deep sense of dereliction of duty at the 'problem map' incident and feel deeply pained," Hunan Television said on its official Weibo account.

All the employees working in the television station firmly believe that Taiwan is an integral part of Mainland China and frown upon any idea encouraging Taiwan's separation from China, the statement added.

The station claims that all those responsible for the mistake have been punished. However, it did not offer any details. It blamed in-house internet control for the mistake but also held outside contractor accountable.

According to an official policy, all maps published in China have to mandatorily show Taiwan as one of the country's provinces.

China considers the self-ruled Taiwan as a wayward province that is waiting for unification with Mainland China. The island nation separated from China following a bitter civil war in 1949.    

While the relationship between Beijing and Taipei has always been sour, it has particularly been on a nosedive since pro-independent leader Tsai-Ing-wen took office as the Taiwanese president earlier this year.    

Tagschina, Taiwan, China and Taiwan, Cross-Strait relation