Visiting Chinese Delegation Calls Taiwan "China Taipei"

TaiwanPlus News

A comment made by a student from the Chinese student delegation visiting Taiwan sparks debate within the country. While many are unhappy about a delegation member calling Taiwan "China Taipei," some say it is with no ill intent.

Transcript

00:00Students from National Taiwan University in Taipei welcome a visiting Chinese student

00:04delegation, not with greetings, but with protests.

00:08We are not China Taipei!

00:10We are not China Taipei!

00:12It comes after one of the visiting Chinese students referred to Taiwan's national baseball

00:16team as China Taipei after its recent win at the Premier 12 Championship.

00:21Congratulations to the Chinese Taipei team for winning the world championship.

00:25We hope that the mainland and Taiwanese compatriots can be like the brothers of China.

00:30Taiwan competes under the name Chinese Taipei due to pressure from China, but calling the

00:35team China Taipei has raised eyebrows here in Taiwan.

00:38It's a difference of a single Chinese character, but one that could be seen to emphasize China's

00:43sovereignty claim.

00:45The foundation, run by former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, which organized the exchange,

00:50says Taiwan's democratic values allow for freedom of speech, and that the student had

00:54no ill intent.

00:55The foundation's president also said the exchange is meant to foster communication

00:59between the two sides, but some in Taiwan are hindering progress.

01:12But the student's comment has sparked broader fears that the exchange is part of China's

01:17united front tactics.

01:21It also comes after criticism from some Taiwanese legislators that many of the students on the

01:29trip are affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, and could be using the exchange to

01:33spread Beijing's propaganda.

01:35While many in Taiwan and China seek open dialogue, the student's comment, and the backlash from

01:40it, serves as a reminder of the sensitivities around Taiwan's identity.

01:45Yixin Pan and Chelsea Wu for Taiwan Plus.

01:50For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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