Amid escalating tensions between the US and China on issues ranging from the South China Sea to trade, a seemingly small issue threatened to add another point of contention this week.
A handful of US airlines refused in May to comply with a demand from Beijing that they remove all references to Taiwan on their websites that suggest it is an independent nation. The airlines include United Airlines and Delta, two carriers that as of Tuesday afternoon still followed mention of Taiwanese cities in drop-down menus with the word “Taiwan.”
When Beijing first issued the request, around two dozen international airlines changed wording on websites to read “[Taiwanese city], China.”
There was some speculation on Tuesday that the holdouts were poised to comply with the demands, despite encouragement from the White House to disregard an order that it referred to as “Orwellian nonsense,” in apparent reference to George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
One industry group indicated the airlines were leaning toward smoothing things over with Beijing.
“As with other sectors of the economy, the US airline industry is a global business that must contend with a host of regulations and requirements,” Airlines for America said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.
“A4A and the affected US airlines appreciate the engagement and counsel we have received from the administration as carriers begin to implement a solution,” it went on.
Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump maintained its objection to China’s request.
“We have told China that the United States strongly objects to China’s attempts to compel private firms to use specific language of a political nature in their publicly available content. We continue to seek to address this issue,” a US Embassy spokesman said.
When asked whether China will take measures in response to an airline that doesn’t comply, China’s Foreign Ministry declined to say either way.
“Indeed, the deadline for changing the websites is close. Let us wait and see,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.
Kick them out if they are not compliant.
For business entity if you to do business in any country, just comply with local regulatory authorities requirements. If you can’t, your choice is don’t go there. The US airlines have turned a very small compliance requirement into a diplomatic headace. I thought there are really smart people. Now I wonder.
Under the Shanghai Joint Communique signed by nixon and mao in 1972, the empire spelt out its recognition of taiwan as an "integral" part of mainland china, among many other conditions.
And now, you are calling this "Orwellian Nonsense"? Hey, you are still the world’s shit stirrer numero uno. No other nation come close.
Low Shen-Cheang,Yes and I also think that China should ask foreign airlines to list the "correct map" of China which includes the entire Spartly and disputed territories or possibly the entire Australian continent since there are so many Chinese students around there. I strongly encourage China to list parts of Russia and Outer Mongolia to be part of China and we all shall observe what happens to China? Nuclear annihilation from Russia and swarms of Chinese refugees? The Taiwanese are just too nice towards the Chinese nationals to tolerate this kind of Chinese nonsense. Btw, ROC and Taiwan are not the same stuff, go check your history textbooks!!
Peter Seo, you should also comply with Chinese regulations that prohibit you to read uncensored foreign articles like this one. Did you obtain a written permission from the Chinese government to read this article. If not, as a patriotic Chinese national like you are, report yourself to the Chinese authorities!! You should also 100% comply with Mao’s doctrine to read ONLY Global Times.
LoL, Money moves the world. Arrogant american companies, airlines, firms, etc are "free" to not comply with what China want. Just remember the consequences though. It’s not like China needs them more.