Unanimous Approval of Resolution to Change China Airlines Name and Revise Republic of China Passport Design
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] Taiwan is in the process of changing the name of its flagship airline and redesigning its passports to clearly distinguish itself from mainland China. Although this revision is stated to be aimed at resolving confusion with mainland China, it is expected to provoke backlash from China as it could be interpreted as a move toward Taiwan's separation.
On the 22nd (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved a resolution to change the name of Taiwan's flagship airline, China Airlines (中華航空·China Airlines), and to revise the passport design that currently bears the name "Republic of China" (中華民國·Republic of China), and submitted it to the government. All 64 legislators who participated in the vote unanimously supported the resolution.
Taiwanese legislators emphasized that to improve Taiwan's international recognition, it is necessary to change the name of the flagship airline and the passport, urging the government to promptly prepare a draft containing the related details. With 74% of the public in Taiwan supporting the change in opinion polls, the Taiwanese government is also expected to accelerate the drafting process following the resolution's approval. A spokesperson for the Office of the President of Taiwan expressed welcome for the resolution's approval and stated that the government will prepare related measures. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said it will study ways to ensure the resolution can be effectively implemented.
The Legislative Yuan's resolution did not include specific details on how the airline and passport would be revised. However, it is known that internally there was a proposal to emphasize "Taiwan" more prominently on both the airline and the passport.
The legislators who proposed the resolution cited confusion caused by the similarity in names with mainland China as the background for this revision. They explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwanese people were discriminated against due to misunderstandings that they were from the virus's origin, and when Taiwan provided COVID-19 related medical support via flights, foreigners had difficulties distinguishing Taiwan from mainland China.
Although the stated reason was to avoid confusion rather than to separate from mainland China, since the resolution was initially proposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which advocates a distinct Taiwanese identity separate from mainland China, the dominant interpretation is that this is an attempt by the Taiwanese government to distance itself from China. WSJ also noted, "This proposal is highly likely to anger the Chinese government." Especially as the Chinese government has recently pressured global hotel chains, airlines, and retailers to re-label Taiwan as part of China on their websites, Taiwan's current move is likely to provoke a strong reaction from China.
Taiwan's efforts to clearly distinguish itself from China have become more assertive following the re-election of President Tsai Ing-wen in January this year, who declared her intention to maintain sovereignty while distancing from China. In May, Taiwan leveraged its success in COVID-19 prevention to strongly push for observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO), backed by full support from the United States. Taiwan also announced plans this month to reestablish the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office" (TECO), equivalent to a consulate, in the U.S. territory of Guam, and preparations for its official opening are currently underway.
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