Tag: Taiwan

China Blocking Taiwan from Certain Competitive Sports

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In the spirit of the Olympics, I thought I would use this post as a chance to focus on the issue of China blocking Taiwanese athletes from competing in certain sports.  This is according to Foreign Policy and Taipei Times.  It is reported that “China was successful in banning Taiwan from participation in high profile sports such as cycling, wrestling and volleyball.”  It is also said that this has produced a greater interest in winter sports in Taiwan which citizens would have the opportunity to compete competitively in.

 

This is where Chih-Hung Ma comes in.  During the opening ceremonies of the Olympics last Friday night, he marched as the only competing athlete (competing in luge) under the Chinese Taipei flag.  Ironically, he walked between Switzerland and Tajikistan:  exactly where Taiwan would fit alphabetically.

 

From left to right: Taiwan Flag, Chinese Taipei Flag (created specifcally for when Taiwan competes in the Olympics), and the Olympic Flag.
From left to right: Taiwan Flag, Chinese Taipei Flag (created specifcally for when Taiwan competes in the Olympics), and the Olympic Flag.

 

While it’s wonderful that Taiwanese athletes can compete somewhat separately from China (as Chinese Taipei), it is unfortunate that they are forcibly isolated from participating in certain sports, as well as viewing them.  In an interview with Chih-Hung Ma, he spoke of his excitement that Taiwan citizens will be able to watch Olympics coverage this year:

 

“Taiwan has broadcast rights this time. [This will] let the audience in Taiwan see sports that are uncommon. . .and highlights that they don’t usually see. . . the Olympic broadcast is like public education: It could encourage more Taiwanese to participate [in winter sports], so that we won’t be absent from future Winter Olympics.”

 

According to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) page on the Olympics website, the IOC’s role is “to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement.”  If the IOC is indeed allowing Taiwan to be banned from competing in certain Olympic sports, then they may need to be refreshed on their mission.

 

 

For related photos, click here.

 

Photo sources:

Will China Levy Sanctions Against the US?

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The Chinese government announced that they may enact trade sanctions on foreign arms contractors (meaning any U.S. company that sells or distributes arms to Taiwan).  This response came shortly after the announcement was made on Friday, February 5, that the United States would be selling Taiwan a $6.4 billion arms package.  Boeing is a good example of a company in threat of being sanctioned.

Source: Boeing
Source: Boeing

Several reports doubt that China would ever put these sanctions in place.  The reason?  Boeing products comprise 53 percent of civilian aircraft in China.  It seems that China would only be hurting itself because they would be subject to World Trade Organization rules.  If successfully challenged, “Beijing could face sanctions against its own exports that would be equivalent in value to the estimated loss of business to US companies.”

 

The Taiwan dispute is nothing new, but it is integral in foreign relations between China and the United States or any other country that recognizes Taiwan as a state separate from China.  Japanese colonization of Taiwan from 1895-1945 sparked a “century of humiliation” that would only end with the reunion of China and Taiwan.  Chinese possession of Taiwan is so deeply entrenched in Chinese pride.  Any country committing the act of attempting to help Taiwan defend itself is undermining Chinese authority and esteem.  Saving face is a large motivator in the Chinese government’s action or inaction, which brings us back to the threat of sanctions. 

 

Ultimately, times are tense for US-China relations and it is unknown if tensions will increase or decrease as this story develops.  There is currently such a torrent of news items on US-China relations, that there is no telling what’s next.