Taiwan will not send delegation to Beijing Winter Olympics ceremonies | Inquirer Sports

Taiwan will not send delegation to Beijing Winter Olympics ceremonies

/ 03:26 PM January 29, 2022

Taiwan‘s flagbearer Lien Te-An leads the delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Pyeongchang Stadium on February 9, 2018. (

FILE–Taiwan’s flagbearer Lien Te-An leads the delegation parade during the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Pyeongchang Stadium on February 9, 2018. (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP)

Taiwan will not send an official delegation to the opening or closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics due to China’s strict pandemic controls and flight disruptions, the self-ruled island’s governing body for sport said.

The decision comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their lowest in decades with China ramping up military and economic pressure under President Xi Jinping.

Article continues after this advertisement

Taiwan’s Sports Administration said late Friday that its 15-member delegation will not attend the opening and closing ceremonies due to “pandemic prevention and flight schedules.”

FEATURED STORIES

Its tiny winter team, which includes four athletes, will be flying to China from the United States, Switzerland and Taiwan, the administration added in a statement.

“According to the event’s pandemic prevention and entry policy, flights have been adjusted and delayed, and not all could arrive in Beijing by the opening ceremony on Feb. 4.”

Article continues after this advertisement

Authoritarian China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed.

Article continues after this advertisement

Record numbers of Chinese jets are now buzzing around the island’s air defense zone and the People’s Liberation Army has staged regular drills simulating an invasion.

Article continues after this advertisement

China has cut off official communication with the government of President Tsai Ing-wen since 2016 because she regards Taiwan as an already sovereign nation.

The last time Beijing hosted an Olympics in 2008, relations with Taiwan were much warmer and a large delegation visited.

Article continues after this advertisement

Taiwan and Beijing have argued for decades about representation at the Olympics.

Since 1981, Taiwan has had an agreement with the International Olympic Committee to compete under the name Chinese Taipei.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

It was a compromise that would allow Taiwan to compete in sports without presenting itself as a sovereign nation.

RELATED STORIES

Why is Taiwan not called Taiwan at the Olympics?

Taiwan, Hong Kong welcome at Beijing Winter Olympics–IOC

TAGS: Beijing 2022, China, Taiwan, Winter Olympics

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.