Olympic torch will bypass Taiwan
The Olympic torch will not pass through Taiwan because negotiators could not resolve differences with the Beijing authorities, officials have confirmed.The two sides disagreed over the route the torch should take on its way to the Beijing Games in 2008.
Taiwanese officials also objected to Chinese insistence that the use of Taiwan’s flag and national anthem be limited at torch-related events.
China described the outcome as a “vile precedent”.
It is truly sad that Taiwan would have the nerve to turn a simple Olympic torch relay into a political issue just for a handful of votes in their upcoming election. Taiwan has already celebrated their 15th rejection to the United Nation and now they can celebrate their loss of a key Olympic relay route. Taiwan has in the past never complained about flying their “Chinese Taipei” flag or “Flag Song” in any Olympic event except this one.
I was surprised China was kind enough to let them fly their own local flags in their much-anticipated torch relay, but now they will have neither because Taiwan thought it could win brownie points for adding a bad taste to the Olympics just for petty votes. This is just despicable and proves to the wrong people that Taiwan really does have a provincial mentality.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory. They have, however, been separately governed since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
‘Deeply regret’
Beijing has planned a lengthy route for the Olympic torch. It will pass through more than 20 cities and ascend Mount Everest on its way to the Chinese capital.
In the original schedule, the torch was to arrive in Taiwan from Vietnam and then go on to Hong Kong.
But Taiwanese officials had argued that this implied that Taiwan was part of China and had asked for the route to be changed.
Chinese officials had also asked that only songs and flags approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) be used at events related to the Olympic torch in Taiwan – ruling out use of the Taiwanese national anthem and national flag.
Taiwan’s Sports Minister Yang Jong-her said the two sides “were not able to reach consensus over the arrangement of the relay after more than one month of discussions”.
“We deeply regret the result,” the minister said.
The Beijing organising committee said Taipei had “violated the Olympic Charter and manipulated the arrangements for the Taiwan leg of the relay for political purposes”.
This created a “vile precedent of an International Olympic Committee member refusing the torch relay within its jurisdiction,” the committee said on its website.
Taiwan getting the torch from Vietnam and then handing it off to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region isn’t so bad when one thinks about it. Getting the torch from one country and then handing it off to a separate political entity in China is exactly what it is: a hand-off among separate International Olympic Committee entities. I don’t understand why the Taiwanese always read for things that just aren’t there as they are the ones who created this ruckus with China in the very first place.
I am sure the “Democratic Progressive Party” will score big in their island’s elections, but they are going to lose out on the world since they have a hard time seeing the bigger picture for some odd reason. Taiwan needs to realize that we live in 2007 and it isn’t 1980 or even 1984; especially when the United States does not support their lust for war with China.
The IOC had set 20 September as a deadline for resolving the dispute, Taiwanese officials said.
Now I wonder if Taiwan is going to boycott the 2008 Olympics, much to the disservice to their hard-working athletes.
Tim Maddog said,
25 September, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
I’ve got a better headline for you:
“Taiwan ’screws’ itself out of another ‘chance’ to be belittled by China.”
ROCtheBoat said,
26 September, 2007 @ 3:52 am
“It is truly sad that Taiwan would have the nerve to turn a simple Olympic torch relay into a political issue just for a handful of votes in their upcoming election. Taiwan has already celebrated their 15th rejection to the United Nation and now they can celebrate their loss of a key Olympic relay route. Taiwan has in the past never complained about flying their “Chinese Taipei” flag or “Flag Song” in any Olympic event except this one.”
Well I’m glad the PRC decided not to stoop down to Taipei’s level when they didn’t demand any special restrictions on spectators coming to watch the torch travel through Taiwan — oh wait, that’s right, they DID didn’t they? Somehow A-bian is supposed to take ROC flags out of the hands of every last person on the island come to watch the torch, because the PRC is afraid of a rival government getting media face time.
Also, I don’t know where you’re blogging from, but if you’re behind the “Great Firewall of China” trust me, plenty of Taiwanese HAVE complained about the “Chinese Taipei” flag and the “Flag song” (whatever the hell that is), YOU just haven’t heard about it thanks to Big Brother Beijing.
wallaceliu said,
27 September, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Actually I am not writing from China, but thanks for letting your pro-Taiwan bias impair your sense of reasoning.
Regardless of Taiwan’s lust for damaging long-term stability in return for a few local votes, Taiwan has effectively screwed itself out of a rare Olympic Torch relay enjoyed by everyone in that island.
The irony is so many Taiwanese hate their own flag and anthem. You’re just one of the minority that still disconnected with your fellow islanders.
Tim Maddog said,
27 September, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
Wallace reacted as one would expect:
- – -
Actually I am not writing from China…
- – -
Then could it be… Fresno?
How about this Wallace-ism?:
- – -
The irony is so many Taiwanese hate their own flag and anthem.
- – -
“[T]heir own”? Talk about “disconnected”! BTW, Wallace, you apparently have no idea what kind of “islanders” ROC the Boat and I are.
Oh, and stop provoking me.
wallaceliu said,
28 September, 2007 @ 10:38 am
It’s you flag: either you take it or leave it. Don’t go whining when China trashes a flag that is disliked for various reasons only when it’s convenient for Taiwan to do so. Taiwanese do hate their own flags but get all worked up when China also addresses their mutual dislike of those said symbols.
Tim Maddog said,
28 September, 2007 @ 11:15 pm
Wallace, are you not listening carefully, or are you just intellectually dishonest?
It’s not about the flag in particular — it’s about the belittling of Taiwan’s sovereignty and the separate identity of those who are neither ethnically nor politically “Chinese.”
So, Fresno, or no?
wallaceliu said,
3 October, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I really don’t care about the culture wars in Taiwan. The fact is the government in Taiwan made a choice to opt out of the torch relay and spat on the world just to get a few votes in next year’s election.
Maggie said,
5 October, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
They brought it upon themselves. I’m surprised China even included them in the route in the first place.
If the people of Taiwan aren’t ethnically Chinese, what are they?
firefox222 said,
26 October, 2007 @ 6:56 am
Taiwan…..this shitland of China really is a …bitch! always bitching about being a fucking independent country! lol My ass!
firefox222 said,
2 November, 2007 @ 7:43 am
Lol, Taiwan screws himself for getting the chance for the Olympic torch.China actually doesn’t care about Taiwan actually. The fact is that Chen(Taiwan’s president) just wants to win the next election by using this dumb ways to make the residents to vote him not the opposite party.
路人假 said,
19 February, 2008 @ 10:38 am
我只想說跩爆了
台獨寫的如此大字
連版面都用全綠
屌!!
badassmutha said,
14 July, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
China was using the relay in the first place for political advantage by routing it in such a way as to imply Taiwan was a province of China. When I was in the mainland studying, several students kept telling me about how much China has done for Taiwan. I’m still waiting to receive references and evidence as to this much heralded benevolence. As far as I can tell, every move China’s government makes is in it’s own interest. I have no qualms at all with the citizens of China, as I have many good friends there, but you’ve got to be joking if you’re suggesting that China’s torch relay was some kind of gesture of good will by it’s government toward Taiwan.
Katie said,
28 July, 2008 @ 4:33 am
what kind of a web-site is this? and WHAT NATIONALITY is the author?
wallaceliu said,
“Actually I am not writing from China, but thanks for letting your pro-Taiwan bias impair your sense of reasoning.”
you have to be kidding me. This is THE MOST biased article and website i have ever come across!!
and by the way…
“Taiwan needs to realize that we live in 2007 and it isn’t 1980 or even 1984; especially when the United States does not support their lust for war with China.”
One, I don’t think anyone (whether in the US or Taiwan) is “lusty” for war, and that’s common sense by the way…
And two, the One China One Taiwan controversy is one of the most pressing issues for the international community right now. Your right on one thing, it isn’t 1980 or even ‘84…it’s the 21st century and the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty has only continued to climax since the 80’s as China’s government continues to push its One China agenda.
also, enough about “separating politics from the olympic games”…
when have the olympics games ever NOT been political?
Cenk angelos K. said,
24 August, 2008 @ 8:51 am
What is all this hate you have for Taiwan? I am a Turkish-Greek and support the Taiwanese peoples freedom. What does China has to do with Taiwan ? Actually China is the North Korea and Taiwan is the South Korea of their own case… instead of trying to occupy Taiwan on internet blogs I truly believe that China should give up communism, find the right way and join Taiwan under Taiwanese flag. Absolutely Taiwanese China would be much more appreciated worldwide …. I don’t wish to sound wrong I love Chinese people as much as I love Taiwanese just the Chinese bully government pisses me off.
URMOM said,
7 October, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
Uh, ok. I’m not even going to comment about how DUMB comment 14 is because that person obviously doesn’t own a brain.
No, I’m not going to write “FUCK YOU MOTHER FUCKA” or “TAIWAN IS A COUNTRY AND I’M STUPID!”
All i got to say is this: I L O V EEEEE this site. Update more man, it’s freaking awesome.
DAI WAN LUNG said,
29 June, 2009 @ 8:25 pm
What’s the use of a stupid symbolic torch when there is no freedom?
Do you think those who really love Taiwan and its democracy would care about the stupid torch not coming to our beautiful island country?
GO TAIWAN!!!!