How China’s claim to Taiwan is reflecting on airlines
You might observe some changes in your next flight booking to Taiwan.
Under the āOne Chinaā policy, Beijing considers Taiwan a province of China that the country constantly seeks toĀ reunify. China’s adamant stance and increasingly assertiveĀ claim to Taiwan has taken onto the global stage. To prevent international recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty, China has demanded countries to cut off diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Now, ChinaĀ is exerting their influence over foreign airlines on how Taiwan should not be listedĀ as a country.
On April 25, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) of China ordered a number of international airlines, including several from the US, to change how Taiwan is described on their websites and promotional material. Most foreign airlines have received a private letter from the Chinese authorities in Beijing to amend their listing of Taiwan as a ‘country’.
Responses from the airlines have been rather polarised.Ā Some of the airlines that have changed their listing of Taiwan as a region, include German airlineĀ Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines and Garuda Indonesia.
A relatively higher count of airlines have retained their listing of Taiwan as a country, including Singapore airlines, Air France, Air Canada and Emirates. Some airlines have also moreĀ openly expressed their dissent on China’s assertions.Ā The US State Department confirmed to Business Insider airlines received the letter from CAA andĀ raised āstrong concernsā with Chinese authorities in Beijing about the order.
āRegarding websites, we object to Beijing dictating how U.S. firms, including airlines, organize their websites for ease of consumer use. Chinese companiesā websites operate freely and without political interference in the United States,ā a State Department official reportedly said.
The US agency also states thatĀ it will take “appropriate action if necessary in response to unfair Chinese actions.ā
TheĀ aggressive territorialĀ claimsĀ of China has became aĀ confusing and diplomatically-fraught aspect of several foreignĀ companies since before. International hotel chain Marriott beingĀ placed in a difficult position just earlier this year due to their listing of Taiwan and Hong Kong as a ‘country’ on their website. Other international companies such as Zara and Qantas was also publicly called out by the Chinese authorities. These companies have then fixed this ‘error’ in a routine website maintenance.
The most intriguing stance might be that of Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific, that has chosen to list Taiwan as a ‘country/region’ while maintaining a seemingly neutral stance on the matter.Ā This highlights the degree of caution that companies have to thread on with China’s sensitivities on territorial claims.
Hopefully, this conflict will not carry over to problems with theĀ airlineĀ flights.