Throughout Taiwan, celebrations erupted as their Olympic staff secured its first gold medal within the 2024 video games, triumphing over the Folks’s Republic of China in badminton—a sport the PRC normally dominates. Sadly, this victory received’t be recorded as a gold medal for Taiwan however somewhat for “Chinese language Taipei.”
Taiwan is a self-ruled democracy, with its capital in Taipei. An ally of the US, it’s positioned roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the Folks’s Republic of China (PRC). Within the Olympics, Taiwan is pressured to compete beneath the title “Chinese language Taipei,” a compromise that satisfies the PRC however undermines Taiwan’s sovereignty and identification. This problem exemplifies the willingness of worldwide our bodies to yield to Beijing’s will. Each time the title “Chinese language Taipei” seems within the information, Beijing good points a bit extra energy.
Taiwan, formally the Republic of China (ROC), has had a tumultuous historical past with the Folks’s Republic of China (PRC). After the Chinese language Civil Struggle in 1949, the ROC authorities, led by Chiang Kai-shek, retreated to Taiwan whereas the PRC was established on the mainland. Since then, the PRC has not acknowledged Taiwan as a separate nation and insists that it is part of China. This stance extends to worldwide organizations, together with the Olympics.
In 1971, the United Nations (UN) dropped its recognition of the ROC and as a substitute acknowledged the PRC as China. In 1981, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) and Beijing reached a compromise: Taiwan would compete beneath the title “Chinese language Taipei,” use a unique flag, and play a unique anthem. This association was meant to permit Taiwan to take part in worldwide sports activities occasions with out offending the PRC. Nonetheless, this compromise has had important repercussions for Taiwan’s worldwide identification and visibility.
Competing as “Chinese language Taipei” strips Taiwan of its nationwide identification on the world stage. The usage of a separate flag and anthem additional alienates Taiwanese athletes and residents, who’re pressured to compete beneath a guise that negates their sovereignty. This association is not only a matter of semantics; it impacts the nationwide pleasure and worldwide recognition of Taiwan.
The IOC is only one of many worldwide organizations the place China asserts its financial and political affect, demanding particular therapy. A latest instance that negatively impacted the US is the World Anti-Doping Company (WADA), which ignored the truth that the PRC swim staff failed their drug assessments.
Regardless of clear proof of misconduct, WADA has threatened to sue the US for criticizing their work. That is how China’s affect skews worldwide norms and requirements. The WTO dominated in opposition to a few of President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese language imports and rejected lots of his circumstances in opposition to China, regardless of clear proof of commerce dishonest, subsidizing its nationwide industries, and posing a risk to U.S. nationwide safety.
Even U.S. politicians give in to China. Nancy Pelosi instructed U.S. Olympic athletes in Beijing to not converse out in opposition to the Chinese language Communist Get together (CCP). This sample of yielding to China extends to the United Nations, the place Taiwan is denied membership, and the WHO, the place Taiwan is excluded. Within the WTO, Taiwan participates beneath the Beijing-imposed title of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.
Whereas the U.S. doesn’t formally acknowledge Taiwan’s independence, the Taiwan Relations Act obligates the U.S. to supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself from a PRC invasion.
In 2020, President Trump positioned U.S. troops in Taiwan for the primary time since 1979. President Biden has continued to supply weapons and army trainers to Taiwan. U.S. help for Taiwan is a part of a broader technique to keep up a free and open Indo-Pacific, with free and open navigation, as about 80% of the world’s containerized delivery passes via the area. If this had been managed by China, the PRC can be ready to trigger large provide chain points all over the world.
Moreover, Taiwan’s geographic location is advantageous to the U.S. Having Taiwan as an ally is essential to the U.S. in containing the PRC within the occasion of a battle.
The IOC, together with different worldwide organizations, should reevaluate its insurance policies and take into account the broader implications of its choices. Permitting the Taiwanese staff to compete beneath their very own title and flag would ship a robust sign to Xi Jinping that the U.S. and the remainder of the world are free to make their very own impartial overseas coverage choices with out Beijing’s permission.
It’s time for each nation and worldwide physique to face as much as the PRC and acknowledge Taiwan.
Kowtowing to China not solely undermines Taiwan’s sovereignty but in addition encourages the PRC to make extra calls for past its shores. The PRC has threatened severe repercussions for those who acknowledge Taiwan, but when the G7, EU, NATO, and U.S. allies all agreed, the PRC would have little alternative however to simply accept it or wage a world battle, which might be each damaging and alienating for Beijing.
