This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-44948599

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
American Airlines, Delta and Cathay Pacific bow to China Taiwan pressure Three biggest US airlines bow to China Taiwan demand as deadline passes
(about 9 hours later)
American Airlines, Delta and Cathay Pacific have become the latest carriers to change how they refer to Taiwan online, bowing to pressure from China. The three biggest US airlines have complied with a Chinese demand to change how they refer to Taiwan, ahead of a 25 July deadline set by Beijing.
Beijing set 25 July as a deadline for companies and airlines to remove references to Taiwan as anything but a Chinese territory on their websites. China earlier this year instructed 44 international airlines, plus other companies, not to refer to Taiwan as a non-Chinese territory.
The US carriers just lists Taipei, but Cathay refers to it as part of China. Taiwan's status is sensitive. Beijing considers the island a province China.
Taiwan has been self-ruling since 1949 but China regards it as a breakaway province to be reunited one day. American Airlines, United and Delta changed their websites so the capital Taipei is not listed as in Taiwan.
The move was dismissed by the White House in May as "Orwellian nonsense", but many global carriers including Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and Qantas decided to comply with the demand coming out of one of the world's biggest aviation markets. Chinese state newspaper The People's Daily reported on Wednesday that all 44 airlines had complied with the demand.
A number of US airlines, however, held out and currently United Airlines continues to list the city of Taipei as being in "TW" on their website. "China is willing to share China's development opportunities with foreign companies and welcomes them to invest in and operate in China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday.
American Airlines spokeswoman Shannon Gilson told the BBC in an email response: "Like other carriers, American is implementing changes to address China's request. Air travel is global business, and we abide by the rules in countries where we operate". "Of course we hope that when they operate in China they respect China's laws and rules, China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the feelings of the Chinese people."
American Airlines spokeswoman Shannon Gilson told the BBC in an email: "Like other carriers, American is implementing changes to address China's request. Air travel is global business, and we abide by the rules in countries where we operate."
Cathay Pacific told the BBC in a statement the carrier was a registered airline "of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. HKSAR is also where our operations are based. We must comply with the regulations and requirements of the relevant civil aviation authorities."Cathay Pacific told the BBC in a statement the carrier was a registered airline "of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China. HKSAR is also where our operations are based. We must comply with the regulations and requirements of the relevant civil aviation authorities."
The issue has always been highly sensitive for Beijing, but in recent years it has become increasingly active in clamping down on perceived violations of its territorial claims.The issue has always been highly sensitive for Beijing, but in recent years it has become increasingly active in clamping down on perceived violations of its territorial claims.
In April, China's Civil Aviation Administration wrote to more than 40 airlines worldwide telling them to abide by its laws and regulations and sovereignty claims, and threatening sanctions should they not fall in line. Taiwan has been self-ruling since 1949 but China regards it as a breakaway province it will reunite with one day.
Beijing demanded that neither Taiwan and Hong Kong nor Macau should be listed as separate places in for instance drop-down menus of company websites. Beijing's demand was dismissed by the White House in May as "Orwellian nonsense", but many global carriers decided to comply rather than risk being shut out of one of the world's biggest aviation markets.
British Airways, Germany's Lufthansa, Air France and Singapore Airlines all list Taipei as in "Taiwan, China". Australia's Qantas in June also gave in to Chinese demands leading to the government in Canberra criticising Chinese "pressure" over the situation. In its original demand, issued in April, Beijing said that neither Taiwan and Hong Kong nor Macau should be listed as separate places in, for instance, drop-down menus of company websites.
British Airways, Germany's Lufthansa, Air France and Singapore Airlines all list Taipei as in "Taiwan, China". Australia's Qantas in June also gave in to Chinese demands, leading to the government in Canberra criticising Chinese "pressure" over the situation.
"Private companies should be free to conduct their usual business operations free from political pressure of governments," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said at the time."Private companies should be free to conduct their usual business operations free from political pressure of governments," Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said at the time.
China's vociferous defence of its territorial claims is not just directed at the airline industry. China's vociferous defence of its territorial claims is not just directed at the airline industry. Earlier this year US clothing company GAP apologised for selling T-shirts with a map of China which did not show Taiwan and other disputed territories.
Earlier this year US clothing company GAP apologised for selling T-shirts with a map of China which did not show Taiwan and other disputed territories.
Japanese retail chain Muji recently has been fined in China for listing Taiwan as a country on some of its packaging.Japanese retail chain Muji recently has been fined in China for listing Taiwan as a country on some of its packaging.
Hotel chain Marriott also briefly had its Chinese website suspended for listing Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in a customer questionnaire.Hotel chain Marriott also briefly had its Chinese website suspended for listing Tibet, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as separate countries in a customer questionnaire.