--- title: Marriott’s Big China Blunder a Lesson for International Brands description: Marriott International has had its China website shut down for over a week after the site listed Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as “countries”. image: https://blog.sinorbis.com/hubfs/Marriotts%20Big%20China%20Blunder%20a%20lesson%20for%20International%20brands2.jpg --- [![Sinorbis logo](https://blog.sinorbis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Content/Digital%20Brochures/01-sinorbis.png?width=132&height=26&name=01-sinorbis.png)](https://www.sinorbis.com/) - Education Sinorbis for - [Marketing](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/marketing) - [Recruitment](https://www.sinorbis.com/international-student-recruitment) - [Conversion](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/conversion) - [Schools](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/schools) - [China](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/chinese-international-students) Software - [Digital publishing](https://www.sinorbis.com/digital-experience-management) - [Omnichannel engagement](https://www.sinorbis.com/digital-engagement) - [Attribution & measurement](https://www.sinorbis.com/digital-analytics) - [System integrations](https://www.sinorbis.com/system-integration) Messaging - [WhatsApp](https://www.sinorbis.com/whatsapp-marketing) - [WeChat](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/wechat-strategy) China services - Strategy & planning › - Digital foundations › - Demand generation › - Marketing & content › Global services - [Digital brochures & prospectus](https://www.sinorbis.com/digital-brochure) - [Bespoke development](https://www.sinorbis.com/software-development) - More › Omnichannel engagement ![blob (1)](https://blog.sinorbis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob%20(1).jpeg?width=800&height=224&name=blob%20(1).jpeg) A practical guide for education institutions on how omnichannel engagement is changing student recruitment and marketing [Download here](https://info.sinorbis.com/omnichannel-engagement-guide) Strategy & planning - [Go-to-market strategy & competitor analysis](https://www.sinorbis.com/services/market-entry) - [Social listening](https://www.sinorbis.com/services/china-social-listening) Digital foundations - [China website](https://www.sinorbis.com/services/china-website-development) - [WeChat set up & management Digital brochures, prospectus & handbooks](https://www.sinorbis.com/wechat-marketing-service) - [Digital brochures, prospectus & handbooks](https://www.sinorbis.com/digital-brochure) Demand generation - [Advertising](https://www.sinorbis.com/digital-media-buying) - [Search (SEM, SEO, AEO/GEO)](https://www.sinorbis.com/china-seo) Marketing & content - [WeChat marketing](https://www.sinorbis.com/wechat-marketing-service) - [RedNote marketing](https://www.sinorbis.com/services/xiaohongshu-marketing-agency) More - [Omnichannel strategy](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/services/omnichannel-strategy) - [Website development](https://www.sinorbis.com/website-localization) - China Industries - [Health & biotech](https://www.sinorbis.com/china/health-biotech) - [B2B](https://www.sinorbis.com/china/b2b) - [Tourism](https://www.sinorbis.com/china-travellers) - [Consumer goods](https://www.sinorbis.com/chinese-consumers-marketing) - [Education](https://www.sinorbis.com/education/chinese-international-students) Software - [Digital publishing](https://www.sinorbis.com/china/website-builder) - [WeChat](https://www.sinorbis.com/wechat) - [Attribution & measurement](https://www.sinorbis.com/china/analytics) - [System integrations](https://www.sinorbis.com/system-integration) China services - Strategy & planning › - Digital foundations › - Demand generation › - Marketing & content › Guide: China B2B strategy ![China B2B strategy guide](https://blog.sinorbis.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob%20(2).jpeg?width=1920&height=764&name=blob%20(2).jpeg) The complete B2B guide to enter China, build a brand that stands out and drive commercial results. 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Officially, the first three locations are “autonomous regions” of China, while Hong Kong and Macau are “special administrative regions”. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a “breakaway province” controlled by an illegitimate government. [Read full article](https://jingdaily.com/marriotts-blunder-a-warning-in-dealing-with-beijings-understanding-of-history/) Marriott’s mistake was (arguably) innocuous. For all intents and purposes, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are “countries” in the sense that they have separate visa and entry requirements. Chinese citizens cannot freely come and go from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan and must apply for visas and permits. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I register a WeChat Official Account without a Chinese entity? Yes. A foreign organisation can apply with an overseas legal entity, though verification takes longer and requires a third-party review. 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