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Change China Steel, Chen says

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday called on China Steel to change its name to avoid confusion with similarly named companies in China, arguing that name change is common in the industrial sector.

The president said he would let the company's employees make the final decision, but emphasized that the government would continue the name-change campaign.

"The bottom line is the company's name should not be confused with that of Chinese firms and should reflect Taiwan-centric consciousness," he said. "No matter what the company's name is, the contribution of the employees will continue to be highly appreciated."

Chen made the remarks while addressing a ceremony to mark the start of test-runs for China Steel's second hot-dipped galvanized steel line in Kaohsiung yesterday.

Chen pledged to proceed with the campaign to change company names on the condition that employees' welfare is protected and stockholders' interest preserved.

The president added that the administration would pay heed to different opinions on the matter because it did not want the campaign to undermine the relationship between companies and their employees.

When the administration added the word "Taiwan" on the cover of passports, Chen said, some people had said that Taiwanese travelers would not be able to travel freely abroad.

When the post office issued stamps marked with "Taiwan," some also argued that they would not be able to mail their letters to other countries, he said.

"But all that speculation proved wrong," he said.

Citing the examples of Taipei Bank and Taipei Hilton Hotel, Chen said it was a common practice for businesses to change their names.

"Even your next door neighbor, the China Shipbuilding Corp changed its name to China Shipbuilding Corp, Taiwan, earlier this month," he said. "Don't you think it's kind of odd to have Taiwan on one side of the wall and China on the other?"

Chen attributed the resistance to the name change campaign to national identification.

"When there is a will, there is a way, but if there's none, a simple, easy task becomes difficult," he said. "China Steel, China Airlines and China Shipbuilding Corp were named that way because the administration that named them did not have Taiwan in mind but identified themselves with China."

As a majority of the people identify themselves with Taiwan and think Taiwan is the best name for the nation, Chen said the public must take the matter seriously.

"Times are changing and so are ideas. We must break old habits and make adjustments accordingly," he said.
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