Taiwan Threatens Beijing 2008 Boycott

Taiwan is threatening to boycott the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games if China insults it by treating Taiwan as a Chinese province, the Liberty Times quoted Premier Su Tseng-chang telling parliament Saturday. “Taiwan’s sovereignty must not be downgraded. If China downgrades the Taiwan team’s status by calling it the “China-Taiwan” team, Taiwan will not attend the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games”.

Su said, “Taiwan must attend the Olympic Games as a country or a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Taiwan’s status should not be downgraded.

The treat was made a day after Taiwan rejected the 2008 Olympic torch relay, saying the arrangement of the stop on the route treated Taiwan as part of China, not as a separate country.

Meanwhile International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge told reporters Saturday, “I think we have only to judge for the route when it takes place - nothing is final.

“The Chinese organizers proposed to the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee to have the flame, they had accepted that and changed their minds now, and who can say that is final, so I won’t comment on the issue”.

Kevan Gosper, vice president of the IOC’s co-ordination commission for Beijing, accused Taiwan of ingratitude. He said, “they should go beyond now they feel about their regional position, recognize they have a special place in the Olympic movement, and be gracious about being included in the relay”.

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