IOC is silent on criticism
Taiwan’s team fears China’s propaganda
02/04/2022, 07:10 am
Chinese leader Xi Jinping regards Taiwan as a “breakaway province”. The fact that the democratic island state is providing its own team for the Winter Olympics is causing unrest. On both sides.
Lin Sin-Rong is looking forward to her first Olympics. “I can spend the New Year celebrations in Asia and compete,” wrote the Taiwanese luger on Facebook, “please cheer for us!” But the “very special” experience is also a delicate one for the 23-year-old and her three teammates. Because the small team from the island state is becoming a political pawn in Beijing.
Actually, the mini-team shouldn’t take part in the opening ceremony this Friday in the “Bird’s Nest”. Officially because of travel problems and strict corona measures, but primarily for fear of being taken over by the Chinese organizers. Because since President Xi Jinping has been propagating reunification with the democratic island state with increasing vehemence, the pressure on Taiwan has been growing – diplomatically, economically, but also militarily.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) insisted that “Chinese Taipei” take part in the celebrations, the team management agreed and received heavy criticism at home. Several human rights organizations in Taiwan have said that this is “tantamount to condoning China’s human rights violations” and that the IOC is following “China’s bidding”. At a demonstration in Taipei last week, activists had the Olympic rings handcuffed to their arms.
Flag and anthem may not be used
The government in Taiwan fears that China under Xi will use force to take back what he sees as a “breakaway province”. It is “obvious that China wants to attack Taiwan at some point,” Foreign Minister Josef Wu told ZDF. You have to be prepared for that. According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, on Jan. 23, 39 Chinese warplanes entered the island’s air defense zone.
The Taiwanese watch and listen particularly closely when Lin and her three teammates enter the Olympic Stadium. The IOC has called the island’s athletes “Chinese Taipei” since 1981, and they are not allowed to use their flag or anthem. At a press conference in Beijing, however, a Chinese spokesman called the island “China Taipei”, which observers promptly interpreted as linguistic appropriation.
The outcry in Taiwan was not long in coming. Organizers should abide by the Olympic charter and “not interfere with the event with political factors to oppress and belittle our side,” a government spokesman said. The daily Liberty Times speculated that Taiwan would be announced at the opening ceremony together with Hong Kong and Macau – and thus as Chinese territory.
At last year’s Summer Games in Tokyo, China reacted furiously when the island’s athletes referred to themselves as “Taiwan” at the opening ceremony and entered “Ta” in the Japanese alphabet instead of “Chi”. The next escalation is programmed.