I remember a while back watching a documentary about some Taiwanese science students competing in a science fair in, I believe, Germany. At one point, the Chinese group at the same science fair is outraged that these Taiwanese students have been permitted to wear a shirt that has a small, maybe two inch, Taiwanese flag on it. They threaten to call the Chinese embassy, but the organizers of the event acquiesce and make the Taiwanese students cover the flag with strips of duct tape.
The video shows the boys trying not to cry as the Chinese students stand by smirking. It was a pitiful thing to watch.
In Taiwan, people don't think about their relationship with China on a day to day basis. These boys had probably been excited about getting to go to Europe to be a part of the science fair, and I doubt it had ever really crossed their minds that something like this could happen.
But it happens a lot -- at beauty pageants, video game championships, and sporting events -- and I don't blame the Chinese people that bring it about. They've been taught to do this. It's been ingrained in them that Taiwan is a renegade province, and it is their responsibility to make sure the international community understands that.
That doesn't go for all Chinese people either. We've had plenty of Chinese friends who couldn't care less about Taiwan.
The problem is how belittling this is to Taiwanese people who aren't making a political statement. Most of the time, Taiwanese people aren't coming to make a point; they just want to participate. Then they get humiliated, which can only harden their hearts to the idea of being a part of the country that is smirking on the side as they pull down their flag or change their name to "Chinese Taipei."
And, it's happened again:
Then again, this has been going on for decades. I don't mean to give the impression that this is going to be the spark that sets the prairie afire. Because, just as I know many Chinese who don't care about Taiwan, I know plenty of Taiwanese who shrug off instances such as the one mentioned in the article above.
* When it comes to visas, the United States looks much more favorably on Taiwan because they have low instances of over-staying. That can't be said for Chinese nationals who routinely over-stay visas, which is why it is much harder for a Chinese person to get a visa than a Taiwanese person. Unfortunately, France doesn't make much distinction between Taiwan and China, making it comparatively more difficult for a Taiwanese person to get or renew a visa.
The video shows the boys trying not to cry as the Chinese students stand by smirking. It was a pitiful thing to watch.
In Taiwan, people don't think about their relationship with China on a day to day basis. These boys had probably been excited about getting to go to Europe to be a part of the science fair, and I doubt it had ever really crossed their minds that something like this could happen.
But it happens a lot -- at beauty pageants, video game championships, and sporting events -- and I don't blame the Chinese people that bring it about. They've been taught to do this. It's been ingrained in them that Taiwan is a renegade province, and it is their responsibility to make sure the international community understands that.
That doesn't go for all Chinese people either. We've had plenty of Chinese friends who couldn't care less about Taiwan.
The problem is how belittling this is to Taiwanese people who aren't making a political statement. Most of the time, Taiwanese people aren't coming to make a point; they just want to participate. Then they get humiliated, which can only harden their hearts to the idea of being a part of the country that is smirking on the side as they pull down their flag or change their name to "Chinese Taipei."
And, it's happened again:
A demand by the Chinese team has forced Taiwan to play without their flag being displayed at the Women's World Cup of Golf.I believe that this kind of thing can only hurt China's aspirations for unification. I know these are small incidents, but think of how this looks to Taiwan. While there are a large number of Taiwanese who believe that unification could one day be feasible, support for immediate unification is almost non-existent. Add to that more and more Taiwanese students who go abroad and see the virtual invisibility of their country abroad, wait in a visa line in France and be treated like a Chinese person*, or any other number of the little inconveniences of being Taiwanese that add up over time. That same person who believes in an eventual unification, may come to believe that this isn't working right now, and immediate unification isn't the answer. Because these are only the smallest of incidents, affecting individuals abroad. Yet, there are others -- like, for instance, a prohibition on Taiwanese membership in most international organizations -- that Taiwanese people may someday say, enough.Organisers had been asked by China's management to remove Taiwan's flag from display on flagpoles, golf bags and scoreboards, the event's managing director Alison Spratley told reporters on Saturday.
China are playing in the tournament for the first time, having been given a special invitation by the organisers, while Taiwan are competing for the third time.
Spratley said a compromise had been reached after the organisers had consulted the South African Department of Sport and Recreation. Taiwan's flag would not be displayed but the team would have "Taiwan" printed in full on all scoreboards and clothing.
Then again, this has been going on for decades. I don't mean to give the impression that this is going to be the spark that sets the prairie afire. Because, just as I know many Chinese who don't care about Taiwan, I know plenty of Taiwanese who shrug off instances such as the one mentioned in the article above.
* When it comes to visas, the United States looks much more favorably on Taiwan because they have low instances of over-staying. That can't be said for Chinese nationals who routinely over-stay visas, which is why it is much harder for a Chinese person to get a visa than a Taiwanese person. Unfortunately, France doesn't make much distinction between Taiwan and China, making it comparatively more difficult for a Taiwanese person to get or renew a visa.
Do you much here about this in the university setting?
ReplyDeleteFor instance, we often have "Asian Culture Events" around my school, which is an inclusion of all Asian cultures wishing to participate. In each event or organization, the Taiwanese will bring their flag, and the Chinese won't say a word about it.
Here, the Taiwanese outnumber the Chinese by, probably, 5 or 6 to 1.
I think, possibly, this has something to do with them not being as easy to push around with many, or that my university wouldn't tolerate such behavior (but it hasn't seemed to stop Chinese in other countries before). Or, is it only for international events that they would care about it so much?
I know that no Chinese student would dare take my Taiwanese flag pin off of my messenger bag, that is for sure.
I would say that 90% of the things I have seen or read are of incidents in countries other than the US. Because of the US's special relationship with Taiwan, I don't think it happens as often here.
ReplyDeleteIt is absurd that few countries even recognize Taiwan as an independent nation. Taiwan deserves fair treatment and should be admitted to the United Nations.
ReplyDeleteThese students should just switch to one of the fake "Republic of Taiwan" flags instead, and if the PRC students have a problem with it, just say, "Well, it's either this or the ROC flag, make up your mind!" and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Taiwanese abroad would be more adamant about displaying the ROC flag if even the administration here in Taiwan itself weren't so altogether ambivalent about the ROC itself.
You can see this going on everywhere. I go to one of the bigger universities in the Netherlands, and I have heard several stories from Taiwanese exchange students whose life has been made miserable by their Chinese counterparts who are studying here as well. Of course normally they get along fine, as long as the Taiwanese fit their way of thinking into the Chinese way. But as soon as they don't, the bullying begins.
ReplyDeleteOne Taiwanese girl told me that a friend of hers specifically searched for a European university which was not very well-known or popular amongst Chinese, simply to avoid them. Of course I have no idea how representative this type of feeling is amongst young Taiwanese people.. On the other hand I have seen a Taiwanese guy proudly hanging the ROC flag in front of his door in a dormitory corridor where 80% were Chinese, it didn't seem to cause any problems.
As a side note... my girlfriend is Shanghainese (we met a few years ago while studying here in the Netherlands), and her attitude towards Taiwan is rather neutral as well.
P.S. my own connection to Taiwan is that I spent about one and a half year studying at Taida
Anon, my experiences were certainly a lot like yours. While some Chinese people are passionate about China's supposed possession of Taiwan, most weren't. When I first asked my girlfriend whether the Chinese people in our classes in France were mean to her she said most of them didn't care, and she just avoided the ones who did.
ReplyDeletePoagao, I think some young Taiwanese don't care because they see their politicians as being too adamant about both the ROC and the ROT.
Northerners might tear down the CSA's Stars and Bars flag during or after the Civil War. That is the mindset of the Mainlanders -- they feel they are in the right. And, at least they will tell foreigners, they are willing to fight and die to take back Taiwan. Whereas, how many Taiwanese are willing to fight and die to defend Taiwan? I'd really like to see some Taiwanese show some gumption and muscle and fight back during these events -- but they never do.
ReplyDelete