A group of Taiwan’s top aesthetic plastic surgeons from the Taiwan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery last month attended the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s Olympiad World Congress 2025, held in Singapore from June 19 to 21. The event’s organizers listed Taiwan as a participating country — just “Taiwan,” no “Taiwan, China,” no lumping Taiwan in with China. That was met with dissatisfaction from the Chinese delegation, which lodged a protest.
After the event organizers refused to change Taiwan’s designation, the Chinese attendees walked out, canceling their scheduled remarks and participation in the event.
The behavior of the Chinese delegation was not surprising, as they are accustomed to walking out of events as a means of exerting pressure on organizers, prioritizing their political agenda over professionalism.
It was reassuring that the Taiwanese surgeons were not affected by the disruption. On the contrary, some even rose to the occasion by stepping in to deliver remarks and fill in the gaps left by the sudden withdrawal of Chinese speakers.
As a result, Taiwan became the main representative of the Chinese-speaking community at this year’s Olympiad World Congress.
Over the years, Taiwanese aesthetic plastic surgeons have quietly gained an international reputation, earning recognition for their uniquely sophisticated technology and rigorous professionalism among Asian practitioners.
They have no need to rely on political slogans or sheer volume to gain success; instead, they let their academic presentations and surgical demonstrations speak for themselves, showcasing to the world the value behind the name “Taiwan.”
The incident in Singapore once again proves that in the face of political escalation those who uphold the academic field are always the ones who are most prepared and possess the strongest capabilities.
While Taiwanese doctors might not excel at self-promotion, they are always more than willing to step up when the world needs it their help — all while proudly wearing clothing bearing the name “Taiwan.” Regardless of their personal political beliefs, the moment they step onto the international stage, they choose to do so with unity and professionalism; they choose to make the name “Taiwan” worthy of earning international respect. Their composure, courage and strength represent the true power of Taiwan.
Elliot Yao is a reviewer.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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