Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take measures to protect British Airways and any other UK companies from being pressured into changing the designation of Taiwan to Taiwan, China.

Her Majesty's Government's long-standing policy on Taiwan has not changed. The British government refers to Taiwan as simply "Taiwan" and, when included in a list of places, does so under an inclusive heading, such as "country/territory" or "world locations". When guidance has been sought from Her Majesty's Government on the terminology to use, we have been clear about the British Government's terminology for Taiwan.

Private companies and organisations should be able to decide the terminology that they use to list destinations. UK companies should not be placed under political pressure to make changes. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Officials have registered our concern with the Chinese Government on this point.