The international community should neither ignore nor quietly accept China’s bullying of international airlines to get them to change their designation of Taiwan (“Drop-down showdown”, July 7th). China is using its business and economic clout to coerce international enterprises in order to achieve its political agenda. It is imposing its political ideology on foreign companies, thereby jeopardising their free operations. If airlines do bow to China’s pressure, as your article pessimistically concludes they will, it would represent another blow not only to Taiwan but also to other democracies. To protect our democratic values we call on countries around the world to stand together, reaffirm our commitment to freedom and constrain the expansion of China’s hegemony.
