By Michael Riches
A president flies to a foreign country — say, the US or Guatemala — and steps off a plane that has “China” emblazoned on either side. An average citizen in one of these faraway places who witnesses the event on television or in a photograph would have to be forgiven if they thought the president of China had just arrived.
This was a concern of Taiwanese independence elder statesman Koo Kwang-ming (辜寬敏), who said in 2021 that foreign recipients of emergency donations from Taiwan confuse the gifts as coming from China when they arrive on a China Airlines flight.
I am aware that the countless Taiwanese companies and government institutions carrying the name “China” in their names must do so out of coercion from across the strait, or at the very least, to honor their historical roots. But that does not mean Taiwanese and their foreign supporters must voluntarily hand their money to an enterprise that advertises to the world that Taiwan is a part of China.
I have refused to fly the airline, but I have also been puzzled why so many of my “deep green” Taiwanese friends have not thought similarly about the carrier.
One friend in particular who refuses to carry a “Republic of China” passport in favor of the one branded “Taiwan” nonetheless encouraged me to book on China Airlines for my upcoming trip to Canada for its cheap tickets and convenient schedule.
Another Taiwanese friend told me that the term “中華” (“Chinese”) is so ubiquitous in company names and institutions that no one associates it with China anymore.
However, Taiwanese don’t seem to express such indifference when it comes to their athletes being forced to compete abroad as Chinese Taipei. Why then does the same anger not carry over to other Chinese branding throughout the nation? There is nothing the public can do about “Chinese Taipei” competing at the Olympics and such, but they could boycott “Chinese” companies that exist only through the graciousness of public patronage.
Recent polls show that more than 90 percent of Taiwanese do not ever want to unify with China — regardless of whether the CCP is replaced with a democratic government — and that number is only growing. If this portion of the population boycotted China Airlines, the company would be bankrupted, or at least rendered insignificant. Other airlines, such as EVA, would buy out its fleet and fill its schedules.
Rubbing out a major institution that forces China’s imprint on Taiwan would send a clear message to Beijing — not from the government in Taipei, but from the people of Taiwan. It would be a bold act of collective sovereign agency.
This does not just apply to Taiwanese, but to foreigners who support the nation’s plight. Consider the official foreign delegations that arrive in Taiwan on China Airlines. They often come here in defiance of China, yet many of them have China’s name plastered on their itineraries and tickets, not to mention the aircraft itself.
I briefly lived in Shanghai before ever setting foot in Taiwan. I was supportive of Taiwan then, although I had to politely listen to the local take on the Taiwanese matters when they came up in conversation. I didn't push back, as my knowledge of Taiwan and its history was only superficial at the time, so I took in the Chinese position with curiosity and a grain of salt.
Upon my first visit to Taiwan, my passport was stamped "Republic of China." It was the first time I saw that name — and the first time I thought my Chinese friends might have been right about Taiwan after all.
Having come back around on the issue — not by any academic argument, but simply by living here and understanding the wants of the Taiwanese people — I have found any ambiguous messaging distasteful and frustrating to encounter.
This is why I hope Taiwanese take more action where their government cannot. The existence of China Airlines and the message it flies around the world could be squelched simply by refusing to use its services.
