The government is reportedly urging US carriers behind the scenes to resist pressure from China over its Taiwan demands.
Having publicly slammed it as ‘Orwellian nonsense’ the Administration has asked United, American and Delta Air Lines not to comply, The Financial Times reports, citing multiple sources.
However the airlines will unlikely hold firm and resist China’s ‘my way or the highway’ ultimatum as China is a key market for all of them.
China informed nearly 40 global airlines to change their websites and marketing materials to comply with the ‘one China’ policy.
Any which resist could see their China operations suspended.
Many have changed their Taiwan listings as instructed, including Qantas, while several more are holding out and have requested extensions, including Japan carriers.
American Airlines has acknowledged it is now a pawn stuck in the middle of a geopolitical tiff between the two superpowers, cautious of annoying either.
"The United States has replied to the Chinese government and as a result we are following the direction of the US government. Right now it is between our government and their government and we are following the guidance of our government," said American CEO Doug Parker.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop decried the ‘political pressure’ applied to Qantas to change to the ‘One China’ policy but the government won’t intervene, attracting accusations it is ‘kowtowing’ to Beijing.
