Taiwan will boycott Olympics if team is belittled

RTI ( Republic of China) ^ | 07/24/2008 Taiwan's national athletics team will withdraw from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games if it is referred to as "Taipei, China" rather than "Chinese Taipei". Tai Shia-ling, minister of Taiwan's Sports Affairs Council, said the country's athletes would withdraw from the Games if China's officials call Taiwan "Taipei, China." This would downgrade Taiwan's independent status and imply that Taiwan is part of China. Some Taiwanese lawmakers have also called for boycotting the Beijing Olympics unless the dispute over Taiwan's name is resolved. Several lawmakers of the ruling Kuomintang said China must not attempt to change the name under which Taiwan will compete in next month's Olympics. (Excerpt) Read more at... [read full story]