An Olympic torch relay

An Olympic torch relay

The China Post Editorial, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
April 27, 2007


The International Olympic Committee decided on the route of the Olympic torch relay yesterday. Taiwan was included, but Taipei does not want the torch to come.

The only reason the route was rejected is that the torch did not come to Taiwan from a third country and leave the island for another third country. Of course, the National Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which is under direct control of the Executive Yuan, tried to present hundreds of excuses. But the government in Taipei, not the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, would accept no other route of the torch relay.

Incidentally, it had been agreed between the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and its opposite number in Beijing, which is organizing next year's summer games, that the torch would come to Taiwan from a third country and leave for Hong Kong or Macao. When that agreement was reported, everyone in Taiwan was happy that the powers that be, after all, understand the importance all our sports-loving people attach to the torch relay.

Then came an interference. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party believes it below the dignity of Taiwan as an independent, sovereign state, if the torch should leave for any part of the People's Republic of China. It even threatened to have Taiwan boycott the Olympics, if the International Olympic Committee should make the decision it actually did.

That's sheer stupidity.

There's no doubt that Beijing wants to show the world that Taiwan is part of China by making the torch come to the island and go back to the Chinese mainland. It shouldn't have tried to do so. But China has a good alibi. It's not China but the International Olympic Committee that made the decision!

Taipei has no alibi. The torch relay shouldn't be a political issue, even though it is in fact. That's why the International Olympic Committee made the decision. But almost the whole world acknowledges China's claim that Taiwan is a renegade province it wants to take back to its fold. Even the United Nations officially regards Taiwan as a province of the People's Republic of China. Nobody likes it. But nobody can do anything about it.

By refusing to let the torch relay through Taiwan, the government is pleasing a small group of independence activists but depriving all sports enthusiasts and by far the greater majority of our people of their chance to watch the torch come through Taiwan.

One word of warning. Don't try to boycott the Beijing Olympics.




(Courtesy of the China Post, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

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