Air Canada bows to pressure and lists Taipei as being part of China

MONTREAL — Air Canada has listed the capital of Taiwan as a part of China on its booking website, joining a growing list of air carriers that have bowed to Chinese pressure to isolate the self-ruled island.

The Montreal-based airline didn’t immediately respond to questions about what prompted the change, but published reports say the Chinese government wrote letters to several airlines requesting the change.

Malaysia Airlines and British Airways are among the carriers that have joined Air Canada in adding CN to Taipei on its websites.

The government of Chinese President Xi Jinping has been increasingly assertive about its claims to Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province and has threatened use military force to bring under its control.

Delta Air Lines, hotel operator Marriott, fashion brand Zara and other companies have apologized to China for referring to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Tibet as countries on websites or promotional material.

The White House has condemned China’s efforts to control how U.S. airlines refer to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, saying the push to make them comply with Chinese standards is “Orwellian nonsense.”

— With files from The Associated Press.

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