It used to be called the Republic of Formosa. Then it called itself Taiwan. Now Qantas has rebranded it “China”. Via The Guardian:
Qantas has bowed to Chinese pressure to change the way it refers to Taiwanon its website.
The chief executive, Alan Joyce, revealed on Monday that the airline is in the process of making the change after China’s aviation regulator in April gave more than 40 airlines a deadline of 25 May to do so.
“Our intention is to meet the requirements. It’s just taking time to get there,” Joyce told reporters at the International Air Transport Association annual meeting in Sydney.
Last month the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, said there should be “no pressure from governments” that threaten the ordinary operations of business. On Tuesday she reiterated that position, saying Qantas was free to make its own corporate decisions.
I can’t wait for Qantas to rebrand Australia “Great Southern Canton”.
