[Epoch Times, January 25, 2022](The Epoch Times reporter Li Yan comprehensive report) The Taiwan government said on Tuesday (January 25) that it will not send any officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics, but its athletes will participate as usual, and called for The CCP should not use politics to “interfere” in events or “depreciate” Taiwan.
Taiwanese athletes will participate in the Olympics as normal, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which sets China policy, said in a statement. At least four have already qualified for the competition, according to the Taiwan Olympic Committee.
“In addition, considering the limited number of participants and the previous precedent that our officials were often absent, no official representatives will be sent.” The statement said that the Taiwan Olympic Committee will lead a delegation to China to handle Olympic-related matters.
During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Taiwan also did not send officials to attend.
“We call on the organizers of this year to abide by the ‘Olympic Charter’ and not to use political factors to interfere with the competition, suppress and belittle our side. Relevant government units will also be prepared to respond to various emergencies,” the statement added.
Over the past two years or so, the CCP has escalated its global military expansion, including regular disruption of Taiwan by military aircraft, and the situation in the Taiwan Strait has continued to escalate. According to a report by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, China sent a total of 39 military aircraft to the air defense identification zone on Sunday (January 23), the largest since October 2021.
A senior Taiwanese official familiar with the matter told Reuters that Taipei authorities were concerned that Beijing could “dwarf” Taiwan’s status by placing its athletes alongside those from China’s “special administrative region” of Hong Kong at the opening ceremony.
Because of Beijing’s intervention, Taiwan usually participates in various sports events, including the Olympics, under the name “Chinese Taipei”.
During the Tokyo Olympic Games to be held in 2021, Taiwan participated in the competition under the name of “Chinese Taipei” for the 10th time, and won 2 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 6 bronze medals. Year-old topic – should Taiwan compete in the name of “Taiwan”?
According to Reuters, subtropical Taiwan has no tradition of winter sports, and the public has little interest in the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Before Taiwan announced that it would not send official representatives to the Games, several countries said they would not send officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics, which will open on Feb.
On December 6, 2021, the White House announced that the United States would not send any diplomatic representatives to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics due to “the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.” Members of Congress from both parties say the United States is sending a signal to the world that it cannot stand idly by the CCP’s heinous human rights atrocities.
After the White House announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Britain, Australia and Canada all announced a diplomatic boycott of the event on December 8, two days later.
Responsible editor: Lin Yan#