In the ongoing battle over the sovereignty of China and Taiwan, Taiwan is now fighting back. The island nation is mulling punitive “countermeasures” for airlines who caved into Mainland demands to label Taiwan as part of China.
These “countermeasures” are decidedly consumer unfriendly and include barring airlines from using jet bridges and re-allocating takeoff and landing slots to less competitive times.
But U.S. and South Korean carriers, who took a more neutral stance by simply dropping the country name from Taiwan, may soon be showered with increased benefits like reduced or eliminated landing fees and passenger facility charges.
Right now, these countermeasures are only at the planning stages. The Taiwanese government and opposition parties have both cautioned that any policy changes must carefully consider consumer convenience. Some fear that new Taiwanese penalties could result in another round of countermeasures, hurting everyone involved.
> Read More: China Rejects Compromise On Taiwan By U.S. Airlines
CONCLUSION
Technically, Taiwan is part of China…the Republic of China, not the People’s Republic of China. The issue is not calling Taiwan part of China per se, but not listing Taiwan as an independent nation. Beijing is insisting that Taiwan and the Mainland be the same color on the map. While I think placing airlines in the middle of a long-standing dispute is counterproductive, I understand Taiwan’s disappointment. Still, these labeling changes are just a “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” more than than a reflection of fact or belief.
> Read More: U.S. Airlines Brashly Defy China: Consequences Coming?
image: byeangel / Wikimedia Commons
You should remove your conclusion. As someone who works in Foreign Relations, I don’t think you have any legitimacy to give your input on foreign policy issues and/or on the “reflection of fact or belief” that may come about from airlines agreeing to the change.
I stand by my degree in international relations and numerous visits to both countries. I’d support the US going to war to defend Taiwan…
AMEN! Jon sounds like a Chinese bot to me.
台獨
Well, that escalated quickly…
From a fellow IR student: Shame on you for making such an uninformed statement. So you would want the US to fight 1.4 billion (20% of global population) for no reason other than some ideology from a tiny island nation that is itself divided on the issue of reunification. If you care to read news at all, all the drama between Taiwan and China was started by the current DPP President who wants to shift the world’s attention from her economic imcompetence to ideological fights with the Mainland… Taiwan and China got along quite well for many years before her presidency (again, go read). Heck they even had an informal agreement where China would not steal Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. Years of efforts went to s**t when President Tsai was elected. And now Taiwanese people, including her own party, are complaining about her policy. Taiwanese economy effectively runs on Mainland money and there’s no way to cut it off. Hope all will get better when there’s a new president in 2 years. On a last note, as much as you can criticize the Mainland government, it is the Chinese people that want current “maximum pressure” policy on Taiwan. There are issues that you can blame the government for it, Taiwan ain’t one.
If Taiwan is invaded against its will, the U.S. should back its real ally. I’m not talking about a ground war, I’m talking about an escalating trade war since Mainland will veto any UN Security Council action. And I don’t even support the current trade war…
“If Taiwan is invaded against its will, the U.S. should back its real ally. I’m not talking about a ground war, I’m talking about an escalating trade war…”
Wait, are you saying that the US response to China invading Taiwan should only be a trade war and not to respond militarily? I’m honestly curious about your position.
China will continue to push the limits on Taiwan and eventually try to gain sovereignty over Taiwan. You don’t hear much about Free Tibet nowadays, because the communists won not only by force but also by propaganda. If the world ignores the Taiwan issue, Red China will eventually annex Taiwan.
“reduced or eliminated landing fees and passenger facility charges”, this means lower tickets cost right? Of course not. I remember when he FAA taxes lapsed for a week or so several years ago and the airlines increased the base airfare by the taxes no longer being collected.
Taiwan has much more right to sovereign recognition than Palestine, for example. It’s time for the world, including the UN and US, to finally stand up to the bully China and formally recognize Taiwan.
Many European Airlines had subsidiary companies (on paper) that flew to Taiwan to appease China.
KLM Asia
British Airways Asia
Air France Asia
Japan Asia Airlines
Some even had a few aircraft painted in a more neutral look – eliminating the crown (on KLM).
Perhaps we’ll see United Asia Airline (bring back the tulip!), Delta Asia Airlines, and American Asia Airlines?