I think we know what Google will do here
From Reuters/Yahoo:
Taiwan's government has asked Web search company Google Inc. to stop calling the self-ruled island a "province of China" on its Google Maps service....
"It is incorrect to call Taiwan a province of China because we are not," foreign ministry spokesman Michel Lu said. "We have contacted Google to express our position and asked them to correct the description."...
The small pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union has urged the public to write a protest email to Google, demanding the search engine describe Taiwan as "an independent state in Asia."
Taiwan is recognized by only 26 states in the world and has no seat at the United Nations.
Privately, Google wouldn't dare invoke the wrath of the People's Republic of China and cede a competitive advantage to more cooperative Internet sites such as Yahoo. Publicly, Google can simply argue that its host country (the United States) does not recognize Taiwan, and can appeal to an "independent" source - the International Labor Organization, which applies standards to the naming of countries. Take a gander at their footnotes:
Special cases
Hong Kong
As from 1 July 1997, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inseparable part of the People's Republic of China. When it has to be mentioned in a text, Hong Kong should be referred to either by its full title "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China" or by its short title "Hong Kong, China" (eg. in lists of countries).
Macau
As from 20 December 1999, the Macau Special Administrative Region is an inseparable part of the People's Republic of China. When it has to be mentioned in a text, Macau should be referred to either by using its full title "Macau Special Administrative Region, China", or by its short title "Macau,China" (eg. in lists of countries).
Taiwan
Taiwan should not be treated as a country, since its status is that of a province of the People's Republic of China. If in exceptional cases it has to be mentioned in an ILO publication or document it should be referred to as Taiwan, China.
Palestine
In the ILO, the term Palestine is used exclusively for the Palestine Liberation Movement and is not applied to any geographical entity. The following terms may be used in this context: West Bank and Gaza Strip, Gaza Strip and Jericho Area.
The adjective Palestinian is always acceptable, except with the term "territories". Here, the proper terminology is Occupied Territories.
Palestinian Authority or Authorities is used to denote the administration responsible for the territories under its jurisdiction, which should be referred to as territories under the Palestinian Authority.
Kosovo
Kosovo should not be treated as a country. This territory is under an interim international civilian administration (UNMIK) upon decision of the Security Council on 10 June 1999 (Resolution 1244).
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