Taiwan's flag at the Olympics is evidence of strong support by Taiwanese Americans for the nation's team at the Winter Games, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee has said.
A store owner and US citizens in Salt Lake City, Utah, had been asked by Chinese officials to take down the flags.
A statement from the Olympic committee in Salt Lake City to the Taipei Times said putting up ROC flags was a demonstration of "freedom of expression."
"We love the support of Taiwanese Americans in Salt Lake City," the e-mailed message from the Olympic committee said. "It is an expression of national pride.
"Unfortunately, we cannot represent our country openly at the Olympic Games with our national flag, national anthem, or be known by our country's given name. But it is always in our minds and close to our hearts.
"The display and support of the people here in Salt Lake City is truly wonderful.
"There is nothing China can do to stop this freedom of expression."
Many Taiwanese groups in the US were attending the Olympics specifically to support Taiwan's team, bobsledder Steve Lee (李嘉展) said.
The North American Medical Association had sent a coachload of Winter Games fans to the Salt Lake City, he said.
The Taiwan North American Chamber of Commerce and Formosa Public Association -- in addition to private citizens from "Little Taipei" in Monterey Park, in California -- would be on hand to cheer on the team, Lee said.
"We can certainly say that a lot of Taiwanese Americans will be coming and supporting us."
Bobsled team athlete Chen Chien-li (陳建立) said, "Our flag has caused controversy for many years between our homeland and China, due to the fact that it brings up repressed ill feelings."
Bobsledder Chen Chien-sheng (
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