In a significant event for Taiwan, the country’s national flag anthem was played in front of China for the first time in Olympic history. Taiwan’s badminton duo Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin captured the country’s first Olympic gold in the sport defeating the Chinese athletes LI Jun Hui and Liu Yu Chen in two straight sets of 21-18 and 21-12.
With this, during the medal award ceremony, Taiwanese athletes stood at the top of the podium as their Chinese opponents watched the white Chinese Taipei Olympic flag rise to the tune of Taiwan’s national flag anthem.
The moment holds great significance for Taiwan amid the continuous threat of an invasion by Beijing, which claims the island as its own.
It must be noted that Taiwan is forced to represent in the Olympics as ‘Chinese Taipei’ due to pressure from China on the International Olympic Committee (IOC). According to committee regulations set in 1981, any name or symbol suggesting Taiwan is an independent nation is prohibited. Other disputed nations – such as Palestine – get their own flag and anthem. But this was the only compromise that would allow Taiwan to compete in the face of Beijing’s opposition.
Sharing the winning moment with country, Taiwanese player Wang Chi-Lin took to Facebook and wrote, “We’ve made the world see Taiwan. We’ve really done it!!! Introducing myself out loud to the whole world again. I’m Taiwanese badminton player Wang Chi-Lin. I am Wang Chi-Lin. I am from Taiwan,” he said pointing explicitly to his Taiwanese identity.
