Australia's IOC rep is putting pressure on Taiwan to cave on the Torch. Al Jazeera has the call:An Australian senior member of the International Olympic Committee, Kevan Gosper, has warned Taiwan to comply with China's planned route for the torch relay which includes Taipei, or "get out" of the committee.
Taiwan has okayed plans to have the torch on its soil but not for the run through the capital city on its way to Hong Kong.
The Taiwanese government said a torch relay through Taipei would "degrade" its status as an independent state, a claim Beijing is extremely sensitive to.
Taiwan was allowed to continue to compete in the Olympics under the name of Chinese Taipei.
In advising the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, Gosper said it "should stick by their agreement".
"They should recognise that they have a special status in the IOC and get on with it or get out," he was quoted as saying in The Australian.
Gosper said he did not know if the issue could be resolved but made it clear which party the IOC would be backing on the torch relay row.
Gosper's position on sports and politics is laid out in an interview here. Originally he called for a boycott of the Moscow Olympics, but later he changed his mind:
When did that change of heart occur for you?
I think the longer I was inside the IOC. I was only a very new member in 1980 and there was a long period before that, since I'd been a competing Olympic athlete, where I was caught up in the corporate community. In the corporate community I had a lot of dealing with government, I had a father who served in World War II in the Pacific islands, I'd been brought up to respect the government's view on matters, particularly when they used terms of national interest, but then as you get older and more experienced in the world, and particularly in international sport, you recognise the amount of good it brings. You can be very quickly used as a tool of politicians in certain parts of the world for their own interest rather than for the concerns of young people and athletes.
Yes, it's true. It is easy to become a political tool of certain politicians......
The Australian frames the story with more drama:
THE Beijing Olympic torch relay has emerged as a new flashpoint in tense China-Taiwan relations, with Australia's senior International Olympic Committee member, Kevan Gosper, warning Taipei to comply with Beijing or "get out".
Note the construction: relations are "tense" and the torch is a "flashpoint." Raise your hand if you think conversations like this are taking place in Beijing:
"I...must....push...the....button!"
"No, Comrade! No!"
"I cannot help it! Chen Shui-bian has provoked us again! Relations are tense! The Torch isn't going through Taipei! It is a flashpoint! I....must...."
"Comrade! Think of all the people who will die! Think of China! Think of your proxy investments in BenQ and TSMC!"
"You are right, old friend. Anyway, the button doesn't work. Hasn't worked in years. State-run firm installed it, you know. Now I just text message the Fukien command on my new pink clamshell cellphone. You like it? I got it on special at....."
In so many media presentations on Taiwan-China relations, relations are always said to be "tense." I mean, what could be less dramatic than a million Taiwanese businessman in China and $100 billion in investments? Makes better copy to talk about those "tense" relations than complex, multi-textured relations where "tension" is largely a media event. It is sobering, from the "tension" point of view, to recall that the busiest air route in the world is between a place in China and a place in Taiwan.
IMHO, the Torch should be permitted to pass through whatever part of Taiwan Beijing wants to send it through -- accompanied by protests every step of the way. Here is a worldwide event that Taipei can use to provide priceless publicity for its cause.
[Taiwan] [media]
Very telling and amusing post.
ReplyDeleteI hope Taiwan stands up to this ridiculous bullying. Regardless of whether or not it should accept the current route, it shouldn't be pushed around by senior members of the IOC.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, why should any member of the IOC have to accept the torch? If they're allowed to boycott an entire Olympics they should be allowed to refuse a bloomin' bit of fire!
I agree, let the torch come through Taiwan, but at the same time protest and sign wave every inch of the way. Something like hands across Taiwan, everyone wearing the same T-Shirt with words of protest splashed across the front and back. It would get world attention!
ReplyDeletethe Torch should be permitted to pass through whatever part of Taiwan Beijing wants to send it through -- accompanied by protests every step of the way. Here is a worldwide event that Taipei can use to provide priceless publicity for its cause.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea!
cheers
the Torch should be permitted to pass through whatever part of Taiwan Beijing wants to send it through -- accompanied by protests every step of the way. Here is a worldwide event that Taipei can use to provide priceless publicity for its cause.br/>
ReplyDeleteThat would show to the world that Taiwan is an official part of China, and Taiwan protesting to get out (like Tibet). I don't think the message is "we don't want to be a part of China", it's "we're NOT a part of China".
Why should Taiwan accept it and protest? If China had said "*insert random country here* is a part of us, so we shall run the torch through your country after entering our domestic Chinese route", would the citizens of that country say "Fine, but we're going to protest!" or "That makes no sense, screw you China"?
ReplyDeleteFeel free to insert any country into that phrase, but can you imagine US/Japanese/Australian citizens putting up with crap like that? That's why saying no is the only way to show the world that Taiwan is no less of a country than US/Japan/Australia, and that we have to power to say no (unlike Tibet or Xinjiang)
i think that Taiwan should not be participating in the Olympics at all, in any form, under any circumstances. if the torch went through Taiwan, even with protests following along the way, it would give the impression to the uninformed (which are many!) that China controls Taiwan. it sends the wrong message: "we don't like it, but there isn't anything we can do about it" exacttly like protesters in China. that would really make Taiwan look like part of China, IMO. protests will accomplish nothing. no, that is not a good strategy at all. with no participation whatsoever, it becomes very clear that China has no control over Taiwan and is not a part of that country. Taiwan's total absence in the event would speak volumes. i would make an announcement that the independant nation of Taiwan has dropped out of the IOC, embarrassing the shit out of Bejing in the process (there is your media coverage, sending the correct message: no one controls Taiwan). Chinese Taipei, indeed.
ReplyDeleteIn 1976 Taiwan boycotted the summer Olympics. Check out these links, perhaps worth blogging about sometime?
ReplyDeleteGame Playing in Montreal Time Magazine
The Taiwan Controversy (video clip)
Wiki states:
Taiwan withdrew after Canada informed them that they could not compete under the name "Republic of China". This was done because Canada officially recognized the People's Republic of China. Canada did try and compromise by saying that the Taiwanese could retain their national flag and anthem, but the Taiwanese refused.
>Of interest, the USA almost boycotted the Olympics as well to support Taiwan. (read the Time article for info).
>Great posts and pics over the last month Mike, keep up the excellent work. I am back from China now and will try to post some feedback now and then. Your site wasn't available in China.
Taiwan should accept the torch or be kicked out of the IOC...I think that is a great idea. I hope Taiwan will get kicked out, since it will definitely reject the torch. A blessing in disguise for Beijing. If Taiwan rejects the Torch, I also suggest Taiwan boycotts the Olympics also, they are not going to win anything anyways.
ReplyDeleteJust had a nice argument about this with my wife, damn near got a divorce ^_^!!!
ReplyDeleteI mentioned the same about the torch route being lined with protests, and she practically took my head off. "Now look the world sees how Taiwan being part of china must accept the torch, and some people are unhappy about it and protesting. Taiwan should not have anything to do with the games at all and out right refuse the torch and boycott the games altogether, a much stronger message of independence. Besides in 2009 we have the world games." Not a direct quote, but it's a concise summary. By the end of the argument, I tended to agree with her.
I'm a bit confused about the comment "Taiwan boycotted the Olympics in 1976." I was under the impression the team landed in Vancouver, but was not given visas or something like that and that it had to turn around.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure that "Taiwan's total absence in the event would speak volumes." Do you mean the Olympics in 2008 or all future Olympics? If you mean the former, I'm with you. In the long term, I'm sure world wouldn't even notice (see UN).
"boycott the Games"
ReplyDeleteNow there's a way to get the world to pay attention to you---act like a petulant two-year old.
Most people don't know Taiwan from Thailand, so I don't see how self-imposed isolation is the answer.
I think Michael's idea would have far better success in getting Taiwan's story out to the world, for all of maybe five minutes. But hey, at least that's something.
If there is any reason to boycott the games, the athletes themselves should do it, for having to compete in the toxic waste dump that is the PRC.
MJ Klein: "it sends the wrong message: "we don't like it, but there isn't anything we can do about it" exacttly like protesters in China."
ReplyDeleteI agree with some of you that Taiwan should never take "allow the torch and protest" approach.
One thing we seem to forget : while we are able to protest by putting some signs along the torch path, China and those pro-china fans in Taiwan can do that too. Not only so, since the event was organized by pro-china side, they might even raise sign right behind the torch. Then it will all up to the media to choose what angle of camera they are gonna take.
Thinking about what happened in the past regarding international sport competitions held in Taiwan but ROC national flag was forbidden from displaying and China's flag was allowed.
And thinking about where in Taiwan the torch event will be highlighted and broadcast to the world --- who is the mayor of that city now ?
"Special" status is not a probational status. As ex-sportsman, I wondered why Kraven Gosper have to be so possessed by its political use.
ReplyDeleteGosper, being in ICO for so many years, should well understand that China’s insistence of passing the torch through Taiwan, as a domestic route is a loaded political statement just as Taiwan’s refusal. He obviously has his bias.
ReplyDeleteIMHO, Torch or not, Taiwan’s participation in 2008 Olympic can be twisted in some many ways by China that it’s better just to sit this one out.