aJelina Yang thought she knew the Olympic rules: No flags or political messages. She was excited to cheer on her country’s athletes at the Olympics in France, where she lives and studies. So the Taiwanese student made a sign she thought would be uncontroversial: an outline of her home island with the words “Go Taiwan” in Mandarin.
But when he unfurled his sign in the stadium stands to watch his team play badminton against China, he was quickly surrounded.
“I still had the poster and the guard was still talking to his colleague on the walkie-talkie. Then there was a man and we [think] He is Chinese and he stood in front of me to block the poster.”
Then the man snatched it from her hand.
“I was really shocked, and I felt very sad and angry at the same time,” Yang said. “We haven’t done anything wrong, so why are we being treated like this?”
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the incident was violent and went against the Olympic values of friendship and respect. It asked French authorities to investigate. The IOC responded by saying it has “very clear rules” banning the banner.
For decades, Olympic athletes from Taiwan (formerly the Republic of China) were required to compete under the team name “Chinese Taipei,” a rule strictly enforced by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The rule is often attributed to pressure on the IOC from the Communist Chinese government, which seeks to annex Taiwan as Chinese territory and is using its considerable influence to reduce Taiwan’s presence anywhere in the world, whether that be in the United Nations or birdwatching associations.
But the name “Chinese Taipei” dates back to Taiwan’s former dictatorial regime, which for decades has battled with Beijing to officially represent “China” on the international stage. In 1976, they refused an invitation from the IOC to compete as team “Taiwan” instead of “Republic of China.” Today, “Team Taiwan” more accurately represents a population that primarily identifies as Taiwanese, but it’s no longer an option.
Currently, Taiwan is one of only three teams banned from using its national flag at the Olympics; the other two are Russia and Belarus, banned as punishment for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Under pressure from China, the IOC refuses to allow Taiwan to compete under its national name. US politicians have called the IOC’s stance “grossly unreasonable”, noting that while Taiwan is generally recognised as a territory, other countries such as the British territory of Bermuda and the US state of Puerto Rico are allowed to compete under their own names.
The incident was one of several at the Paris Games that sparked anger among Taiwanese people over Olympic rules that restrict how they can cheer for their country’s national team.
Fans have been getting creative. Signs at the badminton final featured words in support of “Bubble Tea Land.” Another simply said “Taiwan” alongside pictures of food. But on the same day that Yang’s sign was confiscated, security guards were filmed confiscating a towel with “Taiwan” written on it. The design incorporated video refereeing from the 2020 Tokyo badminton final, in which Taiwan beat China to win the gold medal. A man wearing a T-shirt with the same design was told to put on a jacket.
Sandy Hsu, president of the French Taiwan Association, said: Said Taiwanese media said officials confiscated the blank cardboard from her after ignoring her complaints about a nearby Chinese fan holding a larger-than-legal flag. She told CNA she had been told by the Olympic authorities that “nothing related to or showing Taiwan should be displayed,” raising suspicions that a Chinese national had pointed out the Taiwanese supporter to security.
Thousands of spectators gathered at Taipei Main Station on Sunday to watch Taiwan defend its men’s badminton doubles gold medal, waving national flags and official “Chinese Taipei” banners in a tense match that was as thrilling a derby as the one in Tokyo in 2020.
But the medal ceremony also drew sadness as the IOC-sanctioned “Chinese Taipei” flag was raised and a different song, reworked for the Olympics, was played instead of the national anthem.
“In the international environment, we don’t have many opportunities to say we are Taiwanese, so this is the time for us to stand up and say, ‘we are from Taiwan,'” said Nancy Tong, a 23-year-old student who was at the station.
Three Taiwanese friends in the crowd were more down to earth.
“We love Taiwan. Taiwan and Chinese Taipei, it’s all Taiwan,” said Ivy Shi, a Taiwanese fan who was also watching the game.
Yang plans to go to the police and is supported by Taiwan’s representative in France, Wu Chih-chung. Wu told Taiwanese media that “the IOC will treat Taiwan very harshly if we play against the Chinese team.” Yang said the current rules were “nonsense” and that he hoped they would be changed soon.
“At the Olympics, I hope we can cheer for our team just like everyone else,” she said. “We will follow the rules, but why can’t we have our own posters that are neutral and apolitical? That’s what I hope and what I expect from the people of Taiwan.”
