When asked where they come from, most people can easily reply Canada, the US, Japan, the Philippines or wherever. But ask someone from this country the same question and you could get one of many answers.
Taiwan participates in international organizations under many guises: the Republic of China, Taiwan, Chinese Taipei, Taipei China or even Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.
On his recent trip to Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Africa, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was quizzed by Fradique de Menezes, president of Sao Tome and Principe, about the confusion over Taiwan's name.
"He [de Menezes] couldn't understand why Taiwan is sometimes named the `ROC,' sometimes `Taiwan' or even sometimes `Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.' He couldn't distinguish the difference between them," Chen was quoted as saying at an informal chat with reporters when he returned last week.
The question of what the country is officially called was also raised at a rally in May.
The rally, organized by the "Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan" (台灣正名運動聯盟), was arranged to promote changing the nation's name to "Taiwan" to help the country assert its place in the international community.
Unique situation
Because of Taiwan's unique situation, there are huge inconsistencies in the names it uses in government-level organizations.
Taiwan is referred to as "Chinese Taipei" at the Olympic Games and "Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" in the WTO. It is bidding for observer status in the WHO as "Health Entity of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu."
However, Taiwan's membership in international non-governmental organizations -- many of which stress their non-political nature -- has also run into name problems.
The recent furor over the change in name of Taiwan's chapter of Lions Clubs International (LCI) once again ignited the controversy over the country's name.
LCI, Rotary Club International and Junior Chamber International (JCI) are the so-called "top three NGOs" in Taiwan, in which their Taiwan chapters enjoy large memberships and are influential in several professions.
In April, LCI's headquarters in Chicago decided to remove the ROC flag from the membership flag of the chapter and changed its name from "ROC Lions Club" to "China Taiwan Lions Club."
Denny Hsu (徐明德), former chairman of the Taiwan chapter, said the chapter was not consulted first and that the move was made under pressure from China.
"We, of course, welcome the clubs that are being established in mainland China, so that free speech and freedom of assembly can become more widespread there," Hsu said.
"However, it's unreasonable and unjust to ask that the Taiwan chapter, a loyal member of LCI for more than 50 years, downgrade our name simply because of the additions from mainland China."
In May, the first two chapters in China, in Guangdong and Shenzhen, were added to LCI's more than 44,600 clubs in 189 countries and were named "China Guangdong" and "China Shenzhen."
According to Hsu, LCI has been eyeing the large population in China as a way to reach its goal of getting 1.5 million members.
Hsu added that LCI had contributed US$15 million in 1997 to the China Disabled Persons Federation to launch SignFirst China Action, a five-year program to improve eye healthcare.
Deng Pufang (鄧樸方), the son of China's late leader Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平), is the president of the China Disabled Persons Federation.
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