TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Etihad Airways referred to Taiwan as “China Taiwan” in a Chinese-language onboard announcement before landing at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, SETN News reported Friday.
A passenger wrote on social media that the English announcement said, “Welcome to Taiwan,” while the Chinese version said, “Welcome to China Taiwan.” The Chinese announcement also warned that passengers carrying prohibited meat products could be fined by the “China government.”
The passenger asked cabin crew whether the wording represented Etihad Airways policy. The cabin manager said the crew was reading from a prepared script and advised the passenger to contact the airline directly, UDN reported.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry strongly protested the wording, saying it undermined the country’s sovereignty. It said Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other and rejected any attempt to diminish Taiwan’s sovereign status.
The ministry said it instructed Taiwan’s representative office in Dubai to coordinate with the Civil Aviation Administration and lodge a protest with Etihad Airways headquarters and its representative in Taiwan. It demanded that the airline correct the wording, apologize, and outline corrective measures.
The Civil Aviation Administration also asked Etihad Airways to revise the announcement. Airport staff raised the issue with the airline after the incident, and the Chinese announcement was corrected by the following day, Liberty Times reported.
Etihad Airways began flying to Taiwan in September 2025. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier is one of the major airlines in the United Arab Emirates.