There was no political motivation when the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee said "no" to China's planned route for the Olympic torch. And Taiwanese should continue to say "no" to any attempts to belittle the nation's sovereignty.
Based on China's plan, the Olympic torch would pass by Taiwan twice -- on its way to Japan and to Vietnam -- but Beijing chose not to make any of these stops.
Taiwan had been trying to negotiate with China over the torch's route for years to no avail. Now some, notably China supporters in Taiwan, call Taiwan's rejection a political move. In other places, Taiwanese were called "Taiwan Nationalists" and equated to Chinese nationalism, German nationalism and Zionism.
Why do Taiwanese always get blamed for trying to be free, from being victimized by expansionists from Japan, China and the US? The movement to wipe out Taiwanese culture and language started in 1947, exactly 60 years ago. Sixty years may be too long, but it was not too long ago that Chinese started their massacre in Tibet. Both of these atrocities were committed by the Chinese.
Taiwan has been victimized politically, culturally and intellectually because of its geographical location. Whichever way you look at it, it is the Chinese who have politicized the Olympic Games.
While the Tibetans have foreigners protesting on their behalf, who speaks for the Taiwanese? We, the Taiwanese, have every right to speak for ourselves, and should continue to say "no" to those who discriminate against us.
Rao Kok-sian
Winchester, Massachusetts
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