Confusion prompts call for China Airlines name change in Taiwan, but at what cost?

Support grows after carrier is mistaken for mainland flag bearer Air China when delivering coronavirus medical supplies

Critics say the move could put Taiwan’s international flight agreements at risk

Reading Time:3 minutes

Thousands of people have petitioned for Taiwan carrier China Airlines to change its name and a group of lawmakers is backing the idea. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:38pm, 14 Apr 2020Updated: 9:18pm, 14 Apr 2020

Taiwan is mulling a change of name for its carrier China Airlines to make clear that it represents the self-ruled island and not mainland China.

Some 40,000 Taiwanese petitioners and a group of lawmakers have been demanding the change, after reports that China Airlines (CAL) had been mistaken for the mainland’s flag bearer Air China when delivering face masks and other donated medical supplies from the island to countries in the midst of the escalating coronavirus pandemic.

Critics, however, said the move could lead to CAL losing its international flight routes while incurring a huge cost by changing its name and logo in numerous aviation and commercial contracts with various agencies all over the world.

They also questioned the timing of such a change, when Beijing has already criticised Taipei for trying to use the pandemic to promote the independence cause.

Beijing considers Taiwan a wayward province that must be returned to the mainland fold, by force if necessary. It has recently traded barbs with Taipei over what it sees as the island’s attempt to join the World Health Organisation.