Beijing: Taiwan has expressed hope that China will adhere to the “Olympic Protocol” during the upcoming World Games in Chengdu, despite indications from Beijing that Chinese media will continue to refer to Taiwan’s team as “Taipei, China.” This decision was announced on Wednesday, ahead of the Games scheduled to take place from August 7-17.

According to Focus Taiwan, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), stated at a regular press briefing in Beijing that the “Olympic Protocol” is limited to sports-related matters and will be applied at international sporting events in China. However, he clarified that this protocol does not extend to news media or other areas beyond sports events.

The “Olympic Protocol,” a longstanding arrangement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), allows Taiwan to compete in international sporting events under the name “Chinese Taipei.” This designation is part of an agreement aimed at navigating the sensitive political status between Taiwan and China. Despite this arrangement, Chen’s remarks suggest that Chinese media will continue to use the term “Taipei, China,” a designation that Taiwanese authorities believe undermines Taiwan’s status.

With the World Games set to be hosted in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Chen mentioned that Taiwanese athletes and members of Taiwan’s sports community are welcome to participate or observe. He added that details regarding athlete registration will be released at a later date.

In response to Chen’s comments, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) of Taiwan, which manages cross-strait relations, reiterated that the “Olympic Protocol” has enabled Taiwan to compete under “Chinese Taipei” for many years, ensuring equal status and rights alongside other national Olympic committees. The MAC expressed hope that China would faithfully adhere to the protocol during the World Games.

This situation echoes a similar controversy earlier in the year at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, where the TAO and Chinese media referred to the Chinese Taipei delegation as “Taipei, China,” leading to backlash from Taiwan. At that time, the MAC condemned the phrasing as a violation of the “Olympic Protocol” and a politically motivated effort to diminish Taiwan’s standing.

The 1981 Lausanne Agreement with the IOC ensures that Taiwan competes under “Chinese Taipei” with a designated name, flag, and emblem. A follow-up agreement in 1989 between Taiwan’s and China’s Olympic committees stipulated that “Chinese Taipei” should be used in Chinese-language materials produced by organizers for sporting events held in China.