What is happening?
Taiwanese badminton duo Lee Yang (李洋) and Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) made history at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris by becoming the first men’s pair to successfully defend their doubles title. Having seen off China’s world number one-ranked partnership of Liang Weikeng (梁伟铿) and Wang Chang (王昶), the Taiwanese scooped their country’s first gold of the games.
Yet, this stellar achievement was marred by a series of incidents during other matches involving Taiwanese players. During Lee and Wang’s semifinal win, a Taiwanese fan had a Taiwan-shaped sign snatched from her and ripped up by an unidentified, but presumably Chinese, individual who was ejected from the venue. At the same match, another fan had a towel emblazoned with the words “Taiwan In” confiscated. Elsewhere, a Taiwanese spectator was removed from a match involving singles star Chou Tien-chen (周天成). Reports of staff requiring Republic of China (Taiwan) national flags to be left at the door of venues or kept in bags have also surfaced.
The perennial issue of Taiwan’s designation and representation at international events such as the Olympics, where it uses the name Chinese Taipei and a special Olympic flag has thus gained renewed focus in Paris. While the removal of ROC flags is in keeping with the International Olympic Committee’s policy that only the emblems of countries recognized by the IOC can be displayed, the items in the incidents described did not contravene these rules, causing confusion among onsite volunteers and foreign spectators.
What is the broader picture?
Although Taiwan cannot assume its official name, the Republic of China (ROC), or Taiwan, athletes have competed under the name “Chinese Taipei” since the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The IOC has banned Taiwan’s national flag from Olympic venues, including those at the Paris Olympics. Instead, Taiwanese athletes compete under the Chinese Taipei Olympic flag (梅花旗), also known as the Plum Blossom Banner. In lieu of Taiwan’s official national anthem, the National Flag Anthem of the ROC (中華民國國旗歌) is played during medal ceremonies.
This policy is part of the regulations that only allow official flags of regions or countries that are recognized by the IOC into venues. As a result, even small representations of the ROC flag, such as handkerchief-sized versions, patches, and even face paint, are prohibited. This puts Taiwan in the undesirable company of Russia and Belarus, whose flags are also banned due to their involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The use of “Chinese Taipei” instead of Taiwan’s official name stems from the country’s contested geopolitical status. In 1949, both the ROC and PRC governments were invited to participate in the International Olympic Committee. However, Taiwan’s departure from the United Nations in 1971 led to the exclusion of the Taiwan Olympic Committee and other sports associations from the IOC and other international sports organizations due to pressure from Beijing. This prevented Taiwan from competing in the Olympics as a country. In March 1981, the Lausanne Agreement and Olympic formula were established between IOC leaders and representatives of the ROC Olympic Committee. This agreement allowed Taiwan to compete as Chinese Taipei using a new flag and emblem. Consequently, Taiwan was allowed to participate in future Olympic games under IOC sponsorship, like any other national Olympic committee.
While people in Taiwan overwhelmingly identify as Taiwanese rather than Chinese, and the name “Chinese Taipei” is unpopular with the public, Taiwanese voters rejected a 2018 referendum to compete in the Tokyo Olympics and future international sports events under the name “Taiwan” by a 55-45 percent margin. Concerns about cross-strait tensions with the PRC influenced this decision.
The PRC, meanwhile, diligently engages in propaganda efforts to assert its claim that Taiwan is a province of China. During the opening ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which was held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic), a Japanese announcer introduced Taiwan as “The Team from Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei,” provoking an uproar from PRC media. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Offices referred to the Taiwanese team as “China, Taipei” (中國台北;) instead of “Chinese Taipei” (中華台北).
Why does it matter?
The use of “Chinese Taipei” in reference to Taiwan and Taiwanese athletes significantly impacts global perceptions of Taiwan, given the vast numbers of spectators that the Olympics attracts. Moreover China’s influence extends beyond sports, pushing the “Chinese Taipei creep” into other areas where Taiwan has traditionally been recognized as Taiwan.
Taiwan’s soft power has significantly advanced its global recognition, influencing international public opinion through its achievements in the semiconductor industry and its contributions to global health during the pandemic. Representing Taiwan in international sports events with the country’s official symbols presents a valuable opportunity for diplomacy, which is currently hindered by Chinese pressure. This issue should prompt discussions about national identity in Taiwan and the PRC’s One China Policy.
