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Taiwan won't disappear because of Beijing's bullying: MOFA

ROC Central News Agency

2018/07/25 18:22:19

Taipei, July 25 (CNA) Taiwan is Taiwan and will not disappear because of Beijing's bullying, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Wednesday in a stern protest against China as a deadline set by Beijing on foreign airlines to refer to Taiwan as part of China drew near.

"Taiwan is Taiwan and it is a democratic country that has never been ruled by China," MOFA said in a statement after China's Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) pointed the finger at six foreign aviation companies for what it called their failure to change Taiwan's designation on their official websites.

"We strongly condemn China for its rude and politically motivated intervention in international companies' operations," MOFA said.

"Taiwan has gained international recognition due to its democratic system, respect for human rights and rule of law," it said, noting that "Taiwan's democracy is envied by China's citizens who are deprived of their political freedom."

"It is a sheer reality that Taiwan exists in the international community and it won't disappear because of Beijing's bullying," it said. "Taiwan's pursuit of and insistence on democracy will not stop either."

MOFA also urged other countries that share the same ideals to cooperate with Taiwan in preventing China from carrying out hegemonic acts that are intended to meddle in the sovereignty of independent foreign enterprises.

Since April 25, China has written to 44 foreign air carriers, demanding that they designate Taiwan as part of China within 30 days. Although the deadline has been extended to July 25, China has threatened to take "further measures" to deal with airlines that fail to comply with the demand.

Under such pressure, many international carriers, such as Air Canada, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Scoot, have made the change.

As of Tuesday afternoon, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines Inc. -- three of the foreign airlines targeted by China -- had referred only to TPE (Taoyuan International), without mentioning the country, but in the dropdown menu for "select country," "Taiwan" remains.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and objects to symbols or names that suggest Taiwan is independent from China since the two sides split in 1949 amid a Chinese civil war.

(By Elaine Hou and Flor Wang)
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