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Letter: Name changes needed
By Yoshiko Tio
Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007, Page 8
I disagree with Monica Hsueh's argument that there has been a lot of confusion internationally over names (Letters, Feb. 16, page 8). Thirty years ago there was confusion over the use of "China" when the name was referred to was not China but Taiwan.
There was a big problem with mail deliveries to the Republic of China because the post office would send the mail to China and it would be returned and have to be resent after the address was corrected from Republic of China to Taiwan.
When people read or hear about the China Petroleum Corp, they think it is a Chinese company. It is very difficult to distinguish between Chinese and Taiwanese entities if they both use China in their names -- unless that person comes from Taiwan or China and knows the difference.
Foreigners tell the difference. For example, I heard of a person who wanted to fly from the US to Beijing who went to the office of China Airlines instead of Air China.
Such occurrences are so frequent that a name change is necessary. All the company names that use "China" should be changed to "Taiwan" in order to distinguish between the two. Such continuing confusion is not good for either China or Taiwan.
The name changes are a big help. Whoever said they don't help should travel abroad in order to understand the reality.
Yoshiko Tio
Houston, Texas
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