Politics and the Olympics so often go hand in hand
Geopolitics can be a confusing place especially when things so often do not line up with our expectations or what we think we know.
In the case of Chinese Taipei many could be forgiven for asking what country that is and where is Taiwan in these Olympics?
Well the answer is that Taiwan has been known as Chinese Taipei, not just in international sporting competition, but international relations full stop, a matter that dates back 75 years.
In 1949, the Chinese Revolution had just happened and Taiwan and mainland China were disputing who was the “one China.”
Both nations stake a claim to being the real China as both areas were controlled by Japan until their surrender at the end of the Second World War.
Upon China’s liberation, a government was established as the Republic of China, however they were driven out by the communists to the Island of Taiwan during the Chinese Revolution.
The communists subsequently established the People’s Republic of China in the mainland and ever since both nations have claimed to be the real China.
Throughout the 20th century Taiwan have competed under many different monikers such as Taiwan, China, the Republic of China and Formosa.
However, since 1979, and coming into use in 1981, the state has been known on the international stage as Chinese Taipei after it was expelled from the United Nations in 1971 for its authoritarian regime and banned from using any nation symbols such as its anthem or flag.
The term is deliberately ambiguous in order to please Taiwan and avoid irritation from China.
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This compromise allows the 60 athletes from the island state, which is not recognised as a nation by almost the entire globe, to compete for their own nation, although under a different flag and anthem.
The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee uses a specially made flag featuring the Olympic rings and the white sun symbol of Taiwan inside the outline of the prunus mei, the national flower of the state.
Meanwhile on the occasion an athlete from Chinese Taipei wins a gold medal, they will be serenaded with the National Flag Anthem of the Republic of China.
The name Chinese Taipei, the flag and the anthem were all specified by the IOC in 1981, and have been used by Taiwan since the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Well that clears up the past, but although China and Chinese Taipei have both competed at the Olympics for four decades, it has not meant the issue is resolved.
The dispute between Taiwan and China is very real and tense, and one fan felt the full brunt of the friction during a badminton match at the Olympics two days ago (2 August).
During the match between Yang Lee and Chi-Lin Wang of Chinese Taipei and Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark, a woman from Taiwan brandished a banner in the shape of the Island of Taiwan reading “Let’s go Taiwan” in gold letters.
Security very quickly picked up on the fan and her banner, however could not reach her before a man decided to stand in front of her and block the sign, causing the woman to hold it up even higher.
The man then ripped the banner out of the lady’s hands and proceeded to head for the exit before being escorted out by security.
The incident has let to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaking out as it “strongly condemns the crude and despicable means of malicious individuals ruthlessly snatching the ‘Go Taiwan’ slogan.
“This violent act is not only uneducated, but also seriously violates the civilized spirit represented by the Olympic Games. It also violates the rule of law and infringes on freedom of speech.”
Chinese Taipei have picked up four medals so far at the 2024 Paris Olympics with two silvers and two bronzes.
