Beijing says foreign groups’ use of country names in online menus is disrespectful

Financial Timeas
Date: January 15, 2018
By: Emily Feng in Beijing and Edward White

Chinese regulators have publicly reprimanded a string of foreign corporations, including Qantas, Zara and Marriott, for labelling Tibet and Taiwan as independent countries, in online drop-down menus.

Beijing’s action and the ire it stirred among Chinese towards multinationals illustrates the pressures such groups face as they look to appease an increasingly nationalistic and powerful Chinese consumer market.

“We welcome foreign corporations’ investment and operation in China,” said Lu Kang, a spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs, at a regular press briefing last week. “Meanwhile, they should respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, abide by China’s laws and respect Chinese people’s national feelings.”     [FULL  STORY]