National carrier Air India has changed the name of Taiwan to Chinese Taipei on its website, following instructions from the government, an airline spokesperson said.
National carrier Air India has changed the name of Taiwan to Chinese Taipei on its website, following instructions from the government, an airline spokesperson said.
China had raised concerns about Taiwan being described as a separate region by various airlines worldwide.The spokesperson said Air India followed the procedure as advised by the Ministry of External Affairs in updating the airline's website with respect to changing name of Taiwan.
Air India operates flights to two destinations in China region -- Shanghai and Hong Kong. While Air India does not have flights to Chinese Taipei, it has a code share with Air China. This is the reason that this destination is listed on Air India website.
Now, Air India describes Taiwan as 'Taipei, Taoyuan International Airport, TPE, Chinese Taipei' on its website.
As expected, the Taiwanese government reacted furiously to Air India changing Taiwan’s name to Chinese Taipei on its website. A statement from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India regretted the decision change.
Asking India to restore the name of Taiwan, it wrote that it ‘regrets such decision can be seen a gesture of succumbing to the unreasonable and absurd pressure China.’It asked India to restore the name of Taiwan and added that it ‘hopes the Indian government can provide firm support to its public services and private businesses to defend themselves from a foreign country’s bully action."
Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (TECC) is deeply disappointed with Air India changing “Taiwan” into “Chinese Taipei” on its website and regrets that this move taken by Air India, a state-owned airline, can be seen as a gesture of succumbing to the unreasonable and absurd pressure from China.
TECC Representative Amb. Chung Kwang Tien calls on Air India to stand up against the unreasonable demand from the government of People’s Republic of China and promptly restore the name of “Taiwan” on its official website.
Amb. Tien stresses the need of consultation with TECC if Air India would choose to change the name of “Taiwan” on its website and hopes the Indian government can provide firm support to its public services and private businesses to defend themselves from a foreign country’s bully actions.
The TECC has lodged a formal note concerning against the change to the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and is currently waiting for the MEA’s official response. It is afraid that if such politically motivated bully actions are let prevail, people’s freedom in doing business and in their expression of opinion may be undermined; therefore, free and democratic nations should work together to protect their common values and interest.
In April, the Civil Aviation Authority of China had sent out letters to various foreign airlines asking them to change the way Taiwan was referred to in their websites, as per media reports.
Chinese tabloid Global Times carried an opinion piece titled 'Indian scholars wrong in equating territory row with Taiwan status' on July 3.
"That Air India lists Taiwan as a country goes against India's official stance.
"Recognizing that there is only one China in the world, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing all of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory is the condition on which China establishes diplomatic ties with all countries, the article had said.
China today welcomed Air India's decision to change Taiwan's name to Chinese Taipei on its website and asserted that foreign companies operating in the country must obey China's law and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China views Taiwan, an island which has been independent since 1950, as a rebel region that must be reunited with the mainland - by force if necessary.
Responding to Air India's decision to change the name of Taiwan on its website, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Beijing welcome the move.
"Our position on this issue is quite clear. The Indian side and other countries must be clear about our position on this issue," .
"Air India is respecting the basic fact that there is one China and Taiwan is part of China. We approve of that," Lu said.
"Respecting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and obeying Chinese law is a basic principle that foreign companies need to follow in China," Lu added.
With inputs from PTI
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}