"Taiwan" Name

MOFA has condemned a request from the International Olympic Committee calling
for Taiwan's Practical Shooting Association to compete internationally as
"Chinese Taipei" instead of "Taiwan."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that sports should be free from
political interference.

Spokesperson Jeff Liu warned that China's repeated interference in Taiwan's
sports participation damages goodwill between people on both sides of the
Taiwan Strait.

The IOC has also banned the association from using Taiwan's national flag,
limiting athletes to the Olympic Chinese Taipei flag.

This decision follows an incident in August, when a Chinese competitor tried
to remove Taiwan's flag at an international shooting event in Indonesia,
leading to their disqualification.

IPSC Taiwan Director Chen Hsin-hung (陳信宏) says the association is willing
to comply with the IOC's requirements if it helps practical shooting reach
the Olympics.

(PB)