`Taiwan Republic' flag display irritates KMT lawmakers

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers yesterday lashed out at the nation's representative office in Hungary for allowing a "Taiwan Republic" flag, rather than the national flag, to be hung during a choral competition in July.

KMT Legislator Lin Te-fu (林德福) yesterday asked Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) to investigate the incident and punish the officials involved.

Lin brought up the incident during a question-and-answer session at the legislature's Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee.

Lin showed several pictures of the Taipei Chamber Choir at the international choral competition on July 24 and pointed out that the flag hanging in the competition hall was a "Taiwan Republic" flag and not the flag of the Republic of China.

"How could our diplomatic officials tacitly agree to the display of such a dubious flag in a competition? It is a big insult to the Republic of China," Lin said, tearing up the pictures.

KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) criticized the ministry for turning a blind eye to the actions of representative offices in countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan. He also demanded the officials involved be punished.

Huang said that many non-government organizations join international competitions every year and not all of them report to the ministry about their activities. He said he doubted the display of the "Taiwan Republic" flag was done on the instructions of the representative office in Hungary.