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What a drop-down website menu says about China's increasing power

Airlines across the world are changing their sites to appease China

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What a drop-down website menu says about China's increasing power
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

It’s such a common sight on the web you might not think twice about the little drop-down menu that allows you to select a country. But this small element is at the heart of a dispute between China and the West -- leaving some major companies caught in the crossfire.

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American Airlines has become the latest airline to change how its website refers to Taiwan -- a move that other airlines are expected to follow before a final deadline imposed by Beijing of July 25.

It's in response to demands from China's Civil Aviation Authority, which contacted foreign airlines to say they should refer to the self-ruled, democratic island as Chinese territory. (They were also told to ensure that Hong Kong and Macau were listed as part of China.)

In recent months, a host of others have made the change, including Qantas, Japan Airlines, Air France, Air Canada, British Airways and Lufthansa.

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A screenshot from Qantas.com listing Taiwan as part of China.
A screenshot from Qantas.com listing Taiwan as part of China.
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