Taiwan blasts China as Qatar changes country's designation again
ROC Central News Agency
06/21/2022 11:29 AM
Taipei, June 21 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Monday expressed deep disappointment that 2022 FIFA World Cup host Qatar again changed Taiwan's name on an online fan application form for the tournament, while blasting China for forcing this latest change which belittles Taiwan's sovereignty status.
MOFA said it was "extremely regrettable" that Qatar had again changed Taiwan's name on a dropdown menu on the application website for the Gulf state's "Hayya" card, which all World Cup spectators are required to apply for, to "Chinese Taipei."
"Chinese Taipei" is the name used by Taiwan in major international sports events, including FIFA, because it cannot use its official name, the Republic of China (ROC), due to Beijing's pressure.
The dropdown menu on the application website for the Hayya card originally listed Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China," which implied that Taiwan was part of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Following a protest from MOFA last week, "Taiwan, Province of China" was replaced by "Taiwan," for which MOFA expressed gratitude toward Qatar for safeguarding the rights of Taiwanese fans.
However, Taiwan's designation in the Hayya card application system has since been changed again to "Chinese Taipei."
Following the latest change, China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin (汪文彬) expressed his appreciation on Monday for the Qatari government's "commitment to the one-China principle and its handling of the issue in line with the established practice of international sports events."
PRC sees itself as the sole legitimate government representing China on the world stage, with the ROC or Taiwan being considered by the PRC to be part of China and not a valid state.
Like most countries in the world, Qatar has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan and instead recognizes the PRC.
In response, MOFA said in a press release that it is regrettable that due to Chinese bullying, Qatar decided to make the latest change to Taiwan's name.
It blasted Beijing for repeatedly belittling Taiwan's sovereignty based on the "fictional one-China principle" to create the "illusion" that Taiwan is part of the PRC in the international arena.
For this reason, MOFA condemned the Chinese government while reiterating that the PRC has never ruled Taiwan, it said in a press release.
MOFA pledged to continue to engage in talks with the nation's football association and FIFA World Cup organizers to try and come up with alternatives that can both safeguard Taiwanese fans' right to visit Qatar for the event while upholding the nation's sovereignty.
The Hayya fan identification card serves as an entry visa for ticket holders at the first-ever winter World Cup, which will be held in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world, and the second in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.
(By Joseph Yeh)
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