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China gives airlines extension on one-nation rule for Taiwan
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Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG are among airlines that have made changes to their websites, while those that have received or applied for an extension include United Continental Holdings Inc. and ANA Holdings Inc. (Bloomberg/File)
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ost of the foreign airlines that agreed to tweak references to Taiwan to reflect the island as part of the mainland China have been given more time to comply as Beijing extends a crackdown on companies over its stance on disputed territories.
Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG are among airlines that have made changes to their websites, while those that have received or applied for an extension include United Continental Holdings Inc. and ANA Holdings Inc. The Civil Aviation Administration of China said late Friday that all 44 carriers that were asked to modify their Taiwan references will do so. Eighteen made the required changes before a May 25 deadline, and the rest asked for extensions and were given until as late as July 25 to comply, the regulator said.
Taiwan has been a repeated flash-point as President Xi Jinping flexes China’s economic clout on the global stage, forcing companies including Gap Inc. and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz to apologize for offending the mainland’s political sensibilities. Air carriers from United to ANA received letters from the regulator calling for strict adherence to guidelines on references to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on websites and promotional materials, a move the White House called “ Orwellian nonsense.”
The Chinese government considers Taiwan a renegade island to be united with the mainland, while Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions that enjoy greater autonomy. Beijing objects to references indicating that they are independent.
According to an April 25 statement the CAAC sent to more than 40 foreign airlines, carriers aren’t allowed to place China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on an equal footing, and must refer to “China Taiwan” or the “China Taiwan region.” Maps must display the territories in the same color as mainland China and airlines can’t place Taiwan in other categories such as Southeast Asia, it said.
Failure to comply with the directives 30 days after the letter was sent out would face punishment under Chinese regulations, according to the statement.
Read also: China fines Muji for packaging that lists Taiwan as a country
Airline extensions
United asked for and received a 30-day extension on the request, according to an email Friday from the Chicago-based carrier. American Airlines Group Inc. confirmed it got the Chinese request and declined further comment. Delta Air Lines Inc. said it was studying the matter.
“We are reviewing the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s request and will remain in close consultation with the U.S. government throughout this process,” Delta said in an email.
The White House said in a May 5 statement that the directive by China is "part of a growing trend by the Chinese Communist Party to impose its political views on American citizens and private companies." "China’s efforts to export its censorship and political correctness to Americans and the rest of the free world will be resisted," the White House said.
ANA confirmed its Beijing branch received a letter, dated April 25, from the CAAC. The carrier is in negotiations to extend the 30-day deadline, Yuko Yoshimura, a spokeswoman, said by phone. She declined to specify whether ANA would comply with China’s demands. Japan Airlines Co. also applied for an extension, Masafumi Okuno, a spokesman, said in email.
“We always meet our obligations under international law and regularly make changes to our website, BA.com,” IAG SA’s British Airways said.
Read also: Taiwan sees fewer tourists as Chinese stay away
Regional rejig
Following China’s directive, Korean Air moved destinations in Taiwan to the North Asia grouping on its website, from Southeast Asia previously, a spokesman said. Asiana Airlines Inc., which also received the letter from Chinese authorities, placed Taiwan under a section including China, Hong Kong and Macau, from the Southeast Asia grouping previously.
Earlier this month, Gap apologized for and destroyed stocks of a T-shirt featuring a map of China that left out territories claimed by the country, including parts of southern Tibet, Taiwan and the South China Sea. The U.S. retailer said on its Weibo account that it “respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China.”
Malaysia Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa now refer to “Taipei, China” on their booking websites. Jin Air Co., a low-cost airline under Hanjin Group, said it will change the Taiwan reference on its website to comply with China’s request by Friday or Saturday.
