As Taiwanese-Canadian and loyal customers of Air Canada, we are vigorously protesting against Air Canada's abrupt and current change in the location listing for flights between Taipei, Taiwan and Canada. We were shocked and in disbelief when in the last few days some of us attempted to book flights from Canada to Taiwan to find out that Flights to "Taipei, Taiwan", has now been changed to "Taipei, CN (China)". Others were similarly taken aback and dismayed to learn of this similar change from major Canadian newspapers such as, the Globe and Mail. The Greater-Vancouver Taiwanese Association has also been contacted by news media for their reactions to the Change by Air Canada.

The new location designation is not only misleading but also completely incorrect. It shows the ignorance and lack of education of Air Canada about geographical and historical Facts. To correct the misinformation, Taipei is located in Taiwan, not in China or China Mainland. To designate "Taipei, China" is clearly wrong and not truthful. Next, Taiwan is a completely different state from China - Taiwan is a democratic country with an elected national government and similarly elected local governments throughout Taiwan. It is well-known that China has a contrasting and different type of government. To juxtapose the two states is to mislead the world and travelers. We would like to inform you with correct information, Air Canada, that Taipei is the capital of Taiwan and that Taiwan is Taiwan - not any other country, not China for sure. The correct designation of Taipei, therefore, is "Taipei, Taiwan", as Air Canada and the larger part of the world has recognized and used.

The media has reported that Air Canada and other countries or commercial establishments are under pressure from China to affix China to Taipei or Taiwan and to other independent countries or regions coveted by China. However, Air Canada is a commercial airline which serves travelers from all over the world, especially those from Canada, the US, and Taiwan and hence serving all types of political affiliations and ideological and religious belief. Air Canada thus must remain impartial and objective in serving travelers all around the world. Politics has no place for a commercial airline, especially, Air Canada which is located in a free country, Canada. Air Canada must resist the political pressure from China to dictate its policy, such as that for an issue as the designation of flights locations. Air Canada had recently opened direct flights to Taiwan with the designated location as "Taipei, Taiwan". This designation should remind. To change it now because of the Chinese pressure is to show the impotence and incompetence of Air Canada in its administration and policy. China is attempting to intimidate the world to submit to its' expansionist world view. The world must resist such an aggressive movement and intention on the part of China. To submit to Chinese aggression surrenders our Canadian independence and freedom. To yield to the Chinese aggressor's demands and threats by changing policies and even flight designation names would only surrender the autonomy and eventual profits for Air Canada. Sooner or later, there may be only "Air China - Air Canada". Air Canada would disappear from this planet!

From its earlier indirect flights to the recent direct flights to Taipei, Taiwan, Air Canada must have served millions of Taiwanese -domestic and overseas. This privilege may be eroded now with Air Canada's illogical and subservient change in the flight destination names, from "Taiwan" to "China". We overseas Taiwanese-Canadians and other overseas Taiwanese would now switch our loyalty from your airline to another. This would happen soon. For example, there are several national and international conferences for overseas Taiwanese in upcoming months, one to take place in Vancouver in July - a joint conference by the West-coast Taiwanese-American Association and the Canadian Taiwanese-Canadian Association. Another world-wide overseas Taiwanese Association meeting happens in Japan in the fall. We will advise our Taiwanese globally not to subscribe to Air Canada until it reverses this error. There will be immediate loss for Air Canada.

We are Taiwanese-Canadians and also overseas Taiwanese who love Canada and also our motherland, Taiwan. Other overseas Taiwanese include those who reside in many Western countries, mostly the U.S., Australia, and European countries. We represent all walks of life - from skill trades entrepreneurs, engineers, computer scientists, business people, artists, teachers to university professors and other professions or simply overseas Taiwanese who pay taxes and who contribute to their host country. We are hard-working people and active contributors to the world's well-being and economy. We have formed Taiwanese associations in various countries and in total, there are at least 1/4 million overseas Taiwanese in these associations. These associations and Taiwanese will join us, Taiwanese-Canadians, to boycott flights offered by Air Canada unless Air Canada reverse this change to its initial location designation.

Again, we sincerely and earnestly urge Air Canada to reverse to its initial and log-term designation of flight location for Taipei which is "Taipei, Taiwan". Air Canada should do so immediately before losing a large number of travelers and customers around the world who are of Taiwanese origin and affiliates. The loss may be immense and permanent.



Sincerely yours,

Douglas Chiang

President, Canadian-Taiwanese Association