Taiwan separatists to blame for politicizing sports event : China Daily editorial

The Taiwan authority has only itself to blame for the decision by the East Asian Olympic Committee to cancel the East Asian Youth Games, which were due to be held in Taichung on the island next year.

The decision was made at a special meeting of the EAOC in Beijing on Tuesday, with only Taiwan's representative at the meeting objecting.

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday that it was the right decision to cancel the games, which was due to some provocative actions by some groups on the island.

After the decision was made, the Taiwan authority pointed an accusing finger at the mainland for "dragging sport into politics". But it is the separatists on the island, with the acquiescence, even encouragement of Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party administration, who have tried to hijack the event to advocate Taiwan "independence".

It is their shenanigans that are to blame for the decision not "Beijing's bullying".

They have begun a campaign calling for a referendum on changing the name under which Taiwan athletes will compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to "Taiwan" from "Chinese Taipei", which has been the agreement by both sides for previous Olympic events.

The move is provocative and dangerous, as it challenges the principle of one China, which is the cornerstone for cross-Straits peace and stability. It also violates the rules by the International Olympic Committee governing Taiwan athletes' participation in the Olympic Games and other international events.

The IOC has already made it clear that it would "not approve the name change" during an executive committee meeting in May. But that has obviously failed to end the delusions of the Taiwan separatists as they are persisting with their efforts to get enough signatures so that the referendum will go ahead.

The "Chinese Taipei" arrangement, adopted by the IOC in a resolution in 1979, and later recognized by all other international sports federations, has made it possible for the island to remain a member of the international sports family for nearly four decades.

The decision to cancel the youth games in Taichung serves to show that the efforts of Taiwan separatists to politicize sports are doomed to failure and they are beating their heads against a wall in trying to gain sanction from the international community for their denial of one China.