Attending an Olympic Games hosted by China was always going to throw up some interesting challenges for the Taiwanese team, and the China’ Taiwan Affairs office have decided to spice things up. The controversy revolves around the name that Taiwan competes under at the Olympics…
The situation is this: in 1989 China and Taiwan agreed that the latter would be referred to as Zhonghua Taipei (中华台北) which translates as Chinese Taipei. Bob’s understanding is that Zhonghua does mean ‘China’ but is not used to refer to the nation that we know today. This week however “Yang Yi of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has suggested that Zhongguo Taipei (中国台北) is just as valid as an Olympic designator” (via Shanghaiist). Zhongguo being the name used to refer to modern China, as we know it.
The implication of the change in semantics is probably best put; it’s like changing from ‘Chinese Taipei’ to ‘China’s Taipei’.
This is not the first time that the Chinese Olympic organisers have tried to use the Beijing Games as a PR tool for implying Taiwan’s belonging to the mainland. When organising the (fated) Olympic torch relay an invitation was extended to Taiwan: the Taiwanese were very happy to be part of the international leg, which passed through London and Paris along it’s way, but were less pleased to find out that they had been scheduled between Hong Kong and Macao as part of the domestic route (which also climbed Everest and ghosted through Xinjiang). Funnily enough Taiwan refused.
These stunts are clearly lined up to reinforce the official Party line in China that Taiwan is part of the same country. This is an opinion held very strongly within the general population, who will often express a deep wish that Taiwan would ‘come back to its family’. Bob is unsure of who the PR machine is trying to convince; the Chinese population who are already on side, or the ignorant international community, many of whom may not know what Taiwan’s status is.
Bob is not unfamiliar with the complicated way in which the Chinese view Taiwan; a couple of stories come to mind from teaching in China. The first being a polite scolding from a politically aware colleague that we had better go back to Google images to find a different map of China (one that included Taiwan!).
The second event being a discussion of landmarks which turned to the subject of the world’s tallest buildings. The students seemed puzzled when Bob suggested that indeed China was already home to the world’s tallest building. “No” they said, “that will be in Shanghai, but it’s not finished yet”. A little confused and cautious of what to say Bob pointed out that Taip – ei was home to the current tallest skyscraper and so of course it was Chinese. At this point the students also seemed confused at whether the tower was in fact Chinese; perhaps it was a Zhonghua tower, but not a Zhongguo tower?
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I’m philatelic collector from 40 years.
Please send me postmark’s of Olympic games Beijing 2008.
Carlo Morselli
P.O.Box 51
IT-40013 Castel Maggiore
Bologna I T A L Y
Taiwan is not the same as China. China bullies Taiwan and refuses to let Taiwan use their name and flag. China is a barbaric country and has no regards for human rights. Shame on China
very frank, and very true. good way of putting it Didi!
Taiwan is an independent country. It does not equal China. IOC should not allow China to be the bully here.
I have watched very little of the Olympics because of it being held in China. I am ashamed my country went, but then no country boycotted the Games, I guess now that the Olympic Spirit is measured in dollars, the fact the games are held in a country that has proven little regard for human rights is hardly a surprise.
Haqi, I am in the same boat. I have avoided the Olympics. I do not want to be in any way involved in a Chinese Olympics. I am ashamed that my President went to China to attend the games. I have no hostility towards the Chinese people, but the Chinese government should never be rewarded for their tyrannical, often brutal behavior. Right now there are Chinese sitting in prisons for no better reason than that the government wants them off the streets so they don’t potentially cause trouble during the games. The IOC is partially responsible for the fate of these victims. The IOC are arrogant, blind fools.
you know of nothing of the situation, you are making a fool of yourself commenting about irrelevent points. What rights do you have to say the chinese government imprisoned anyone innocent. No one begged you to watch the olympics, no one begged your president to participate. the olympics are a gathering of good sports. You being there or your president being there is only a matter of support to the athletes from your country. They have worked hard for four years to attend the olympics and now your sitting there saying that you’re ashamed of your president attending because of some political reason that doesn’t even concern you or your country. The people of China themselves have yet to complain and you are there babbling like some arrogant busy body that you are. Why don’t you spend more time swearing at Bush for the war on Iran, Iraq, and the fact that every other president in the world dared not say a word against it, yours included. Talk about human rights! heh! you just looks like bullies bullying some kid that has yet to show his power.
Please shut up before you know the turth, you never been to China, you never know the real history, then you think you know a lot, you know why your education is like this, because America government and Chinese government can’t get on well with each other, you think Taiwan independence, so, when is their independence day?????
If they indenpendence, do you know why, you don’t know, because they never independence!!!!!
And, UN doesn’t regard Taiwan is a country, too~~~~
Taiwan is Taiwan china suck
Taiwan has a president, China has a Leader.
Taiwan is a freedom country, China is not.
Taiwan has central government, China also has too.
.
.
.
etc.
There are not many countries join UN, so they are not independent country??
Actually Taiwan aleardy independent for long time, but we still use Republic of China to the country’s name.
(China is People Republic of China)
Nowaday, Taiwan and China’s problem is affect about history, but a lot of Taiwanese they want to jump over this history problem, so Taiwan need to change the new name because use the ROC is not good, every one always confuse Taiwan or China.
I hope Taiwan can change new country name successfully.
This new name is Republic of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Independence day is Feburary 28th…. celebrated solemnly because of the BUTCHERY unleashed upon INDEPENDENT TAIWAN (given it’s freedom by JAPAN who occupied us for over 60+ years) by Chinese nationals fleeing the communist take over in the late 1940’s. 30,000+/- Taiwanese died that day in a slaughter we solemnly remember as the day we learned that freedom does come with the price of blood.
China hasn’t “OWNED” Taiwan in any recent (or NON-recent for that matter —- produce ONE historical document from any Chinese Dynasty that included Taiwan as it’s territory.) history. It’s the arrogant Chinese that want to believe that they own us.
Get your own facts straight before you start pointing fingers and claiming we don’t know what we’re talking about.
An American living in Taiwan with a thorough knowledge of Chinese butcheries.
You shut up 大陸人!!!!!!
hey the two on top of me……. I’am a Taiwanese and i say the others are right what???? you think i know less than you two??? and yes we might not be included the the UN, BUT why? its because CHINA is bulling us and they give us the message that “You join,you die”