International Olympic Committee Kowtows to China: Why Taiwan Competes as Chinese Taipei
Olympic and Sporting flags (Taiwan), courtesy of /www.crwflags.com
Across Taiwan, celebrations erupted as their Olympic team secured its first gold medal in the 2024 games, triumphing over the People’s Republic of China in badminton—a sport the PRC usually dominates. Unfortunately, this victory won’t be recorded as a gold medal for Taiwan but rather for “Chinese Taipei.”
Taiwan is a self-ruled democracy, with its capital in Taipei. An ally of the United States, it is located approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In the Olympics, Taiwan is forced to compete under the name “Chinese Taipei,” a compromise that satisfies the PRC but undermines Taiwan’s sovereignty and identity. This issue exemplifies the willingness of international bodies to yield to Beijing’s will.
