A resolution has been passed in the legislative Yuan to highlight the word ‘Taiwan’ on Passports and Airline presently dominated by the word ‘China’. The Taiwanese legislative last week passed a unanimous resolution to improve the sense of Taiwanese independence through the designs of their passports and the name of their national carrier.
Taiwan’s legislature on Wednesday passed two proposals that could see the flagship carrier China Airlines be renamed and the word “Taiwan” highlighted on the country’s passports according to the report by The Diplomat.
The resolutions do not mandate any immediate changes but ask the executive branch to emphasize the word “Taiwan,” part of an effort by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and “pan-green” affiliated parties to move away from Taiwan’s official name, the Republic of China (ROC), added the report.
Taiwan has a very difficult political identity with China claiming it as a part of it. However, around 14 countries out of 193 UN member states maintain formal ties with the Asian country while many others maintain unofficial ties through representative offices. International organisations in which the China participates either refuse to grant membership to Taiwan or allow it to participate only on a non-state basis.
China Airlines, the national carrier of the country does not include any reference to Taiwan in its name. When Taiwan was included in of the air crafts in 2003, Beijing influenced countries not to allow its landing. It had to be painted over! The country’s passports currently display “Republic of China” at the top and “Taiwan” at the bottom. The word “Taiwan” was added in 2003.
Taiwan’s handling of the Coronavirus crisis has been exemplary to the world. The leadership after being praised for their effective management of the crisis participated in donating medical and protective supplies to the worst hit countries. However with the label of “China Airlines” on their carriers, the receivers are mistaking it for supplies from China.
Therefore these two resolutions call on Taiwan’s transportation ministry to “study and propose a feasible plan for the renaming of China Airlines in phases.” However, it will mean a direct encounter with Beijing.