British Airways has been hit with a wave of criticism from China's fiery, nationalistic Internet users for listing Taiwan and Hong Kong as countries on its website.

BA has become the latest overseas brand to come under attack in China, where any perceived misinterpretation of the country’s national borders can cause widespread anger.

However, the British flag carrier does not appear to have followed other global businesses in immediately changing its online platform.

Other global companies have been forced to make public apologies for offending Chinese sentiments, and Chinese media said that Lufthansa recently chose to adjust their category of "Taiwan" to "Taiwan, China" on its website.

China considers self-ruled Taiwan a renegade province that will one day be reunited with the mainland - by force if necessary. Hong Kong was a British colony for more than a century before it was returned to China in 1997.

BA came under a barrage of criticism after Taiwanese media reported that it removed reference to China from its drop down menus listings Taiwan and Hong Kong after emailed requests from Taiwanese.

However, that was denied by a source close to the airline.

But many comments on Chinese social media expressed outraged at BA for continuing to list Hong Kong and Taiwan as independent countries.