International airlines that refer to Taiwan as a separate country have just one more day to change their listings, as a deadline from China's aviation authority looms — but Qantas has received an extension.

Key points: Chinese regulator told airlines to label Taiwan part of China

Chinese regulator told airlines to label Taiwan part of China The demand was labelled "Orwellian nonsense" by the White House

The demand was labelled "Orwellian nonsense" by the White House Qantas says it has more time to clarify how it refers to Chinese territories

The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration last month issued written warnings to 36 airlines ordering them to modify all references to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, to ensure they are listed as parts of China.

While Hong Kong and Macau are officially part of China despite being largely autonomous, Beijing considers the entirely self-ruled island of Taiwan to be part of its territory.

The companies were given a month to make the changes, but Qantas says it has been given more time.

"We made adjustments to our websites earlier this year and, along with various other airlines worldwide, have been given additional time to further clarify how we refer to Chinese territories," a Qantas Group spokesperson said in a statement.

Last month's letter received a swift rebuke from the White House, which said the order was "Orwellian nonsense" and an effort to impose the views of the Chinese Communist Party on American citizens and companies.

The letter was also the second time this year Qantas had been asked by Chinese authorities to change how it referred to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

In January, when a similar request was made, Qantas said an "oversight" was to blame for the listings and that it would correct the "error".

Lufthansa and 19 other carriers have already changed the way they refer to Taiwan. ( AP: Michael Probst )

China has doubled down on its efforts to police how international companies refer to Taiwan, and has seen some success.

British Airways, Lufthansa and Air Canada are among 20 carriers that now list self-ruled Taiwan as a territory of China, according to the Associated Press.

Earlier this month, the US clothing retailer Gap apologised for selling T-shirts featuring an "erroneous" map of China, which did not include the island of Taiwan.

"We strongly object to China's efforts to bully, coerce, and threaten their way to achieving their political objectives," Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

"We call on all countries around the world to stand together to uphold the freedom of speech and freedom to do business.

"We also call on private firms to collectively reject China's unreasonable demands to change their designation of 'Taiwan' to 'Taiwan, China,'" it said.

ABC/ Wires