US and international airlines risk curbs on mainland operations if they refuse to obey Beijing’s ‘one-China’ rules in Taiwan row
‘Social credit’ rules could see carriers facing restrictions or being denied new operating permits if they fail to stop listing the self-ruled island separately
Foreign airlines risk restrictions on their permission to operate in mainland China if they fail to back the government’s stance on “one-China” as tensions between Beijing and Washington magnify national sentiment.
Over the weekend The Washington Post reported that the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had sent a letter to 36 carriers last month ordering them to stop listing Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau separately on their websites and mark them as part of China.
The CAAC’s letter to United Airlines dated April 25 gave it 30 days to respond and warned that non-compliance would be deemed “serious discreditable conduct” under the Measures for the Credit of the Civil Aviation Industry issued last November.
Other authorities such as the Cyberspace Administration of China will also enforce their respective laws, the letter added.
The regulations list “various punishments” that could be applied, including closer administrative scrutiny and demerits on their credit records.