China has been showing a friendly attitude toward the Taiwanese athletes participating in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, despite the ongoing political and military tensions between the two sides. However, the Taiwanese athletes are still not allowed to compete under their own name, flag, or anthem, and have to use the name “Chinese Taipei” instead.
The History of Chinese Taipei
The name “Chinese Taipei” was adopted in 1981 as a compromise between China and Taiwan, after China threatened to boycott the 1980 Olympic Games if Taiwan participated as the Republic of China (ROC), its official name. China considers Taiwan as a renegade province that must eventually reunite with the mainland, and opposes any recognition of its sovereignty or independence. Taiwan, on the other hand, is a self-governing democracy with its own constitution, government, and military, and has been seeking international recognition and participation under its own name.
The agreement between China and Taiwan stipulated that Taiwanese athletes could only compete in international events if they did not use the name or flag of Taiwan or ROC, and instead used the name “Chinese Taipei” and a specially designed flag and anthem that did not contain any symbols of Taiwan’s statehood. The agreement also applied to other international organizations and events, such as the World Health Organization and the Asian Games.
The Asian Games in Hangzhou
The 19th Asian Games are being held in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 3, 2023. More than 500 Taiwanese athletes are competing in 18 sports, including baseball, gymnastics, taekwondo, and badminton. They are among the 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions participating in the games.
At the opening ceremony of the games, the Taiwanese delegation received one of the largest cheers from the crowd, and Chinese President Xi Jinping was seen clapping for them as they were introduced. The local broadcaster also made sure to show Chinese fans in the stands cheering for the Taiwanese athletes when they won medals or performed well in their events. Some Chinese fans even stayed behind to get autographs and selfies with the Taiwanese players after their games.
China has been trying to portray itself as a welcoming host and a friendly neighbor to Taiwan, as part of its strategy to win over the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people while also threatening them with military force. China has been conducting frequent air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s airspace and waters, as well as conducting large-scale military exercises near the island. China has also been pressuring other countries to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan and isolate it from the international community.
The Reaction from Taiwan
The Taiwanese athletes have expressed gratitude for the warm reception they received from the Chinese hosts and fans, but also said they did not pay much attention to the political implications of their participation. They said they were focused on their performance and representing their country with pride.
“I came to join the games, and did not think too much about it,” said Lin Tzu-Wei, a Taiwanese left fielder who played with the Boston Red Sox and briefly with the Minnesota Twins before returning home. “I come here for the games, that’s it.”
The issue of the name “Chinese Taipei” has not been a major topic of discussion or controversy in Taiwan, as most people are used to it after decades of using it in international events. However, some Taiwanese activists have been calling for a change of name to reflect Taiwan’s identity and sovereignty, and have launched campaigns to hold referendums on the issue. In 2018, a referendum on whether to use the name “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei” in future Olympic Games was held in Taiwan, but it failed to pass due to low turnout and opposition from China.
The Taiwanese government has also been supportive of its athletes and praised their achievements at the Asian Games. President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted her congratulations to several medalists and said they had made Taiwan proud. She also said that Taiwan would continue to defend its sovereignty and democracy against China’s threats and coercion.