Taiwan Sits Out Olympic Torch Relay Over China Tiff

Stop in Taipei canceled thanks to disagreement with China
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 21, 2007 11:00 AM CDT
Taiwan Sits Out Olympic Torch Relay Over China Tiff
Taiwan Olympic Committee Chairman Tsai Chen-wei comments on the canceled stop in Taiwan of the torch relay route for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games during a press conference, Friday, Sept. 21, 2007, in Taipei, Taiwan. In the conference, Tsai said the International Olympic Committee has cutoff the negotiations...   (Associated Press)

Add the Olympic torch route to the list of things China and Taiwan can’t agree on. After a month of debate, officials have canceled a stop in Taipei because the sides could not agree on the route, or the use of Taiwan’s national anthem and flag. Beijing said the move sets “a vile precedent,” the BBC reports.

Beijing officials accused Taipei of violating the Olympic charter by manipulating the Taiwan leg for political purposes. Taiwanese officials complained that the route implied that Taiwan was a part of China, with Beijing also seeking to limit the use of Taiwan’s flag and national anthem. Taiwan has been independent since 1949, but China views it as part of its territory. (More 2008 Beijing Olympics stories.)

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