Taiwanese pragmatism has long been praised when it comes to addressing Chinese attempts to erase Taiwan from the international stage.
“Taipei” and the even more inaccurate and degrading “Chinese Taipei,” imposed titles required to participate in international events, are loathed by Taiwanese.
That is why there was huge applause in Taiwan when Japanese public broadcaster NHK referred to the Taiwanese Olympic team as “Taiwan,” instead of “Chinese Taipei” during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.
What is standard protocol for most nations — calling a national team by the name their country is commonly known by — is impossible for Taiwan due to lobbying and obstruction from Beijing.
Not only does it hamper Taiwan’s efforts to project its soft power, it also warps the international perception of Taiwan, severely restricting countries from aiding Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.
China’s intimidation campaign not only aims to strip Taiwan of its identity, it seeks to frame it as a domestic issue, discouraging friendly nations from intervening should China attempt to annex Taiwan by force.
The Formosa Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) last week announced that it would relaunch a petition in the US for the one-year anniversary of the reintroduction of Taiwan Representative Office Act in the US Senate. The campaign aims to pressure US lawmakers to pass bills that encourage the US Department of State to rename Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington, from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office to the “Taiwan Representative Office.” A similar bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives in May last year.
Some argue that names matter less than policy. However, if the name of Taiwan’s chief diplomatic mission in the US, a country Taiwan relies heavily on for security, is mislabeled to imply that Taiwan is a part of China, it could severely hamper public support for critical US interference should Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) ever decide to pull the trigger.
That is when perception becomes substance. FAPA has advocated for name changes for more than two decades to enhance Taiwan’s defenses against Chinese annexation and maintain the nation’s unique identity.
Throughout history the power of public perception has influenced democracies. Look no further than the Vietnam War.
“The Living Room War” could easily repeat itself when it comes to ever growing Chinese ambitions on Taiwan. From Russia and Cuba, to North Korea and China, there is overwhelming evidence of how autocracies take advantage of free speech and diplomatic channels in democracies to influence public perception.
FAPA president Kao Su-mei (林素梅) said that following conventions currently set by China, namely forcing Taiwan to use “Chinese Taipei,” only emboldens and enables the international bullying of Taiwan.
That was evident at the World Baseball Classic, where Taiwan must compete as “Chinese Taipei” at the behest of China.
Whether it is the naming of Taiwan’s de facto embassies, sports teams, or the coercion of companies and academic conferences to identify the nation as “Taiwan, China,” the efforts represent a form of cognitive warfare designed to erode the Taiwanese identity and prevent international support, she said.
FAPA executive director Anny Hsiao (蕭喬勻) added that she often encounters naysayers who argue that Taipei should not “provoke” Beijing by altering something they view as merely symbolic.
However, while changing the name of a de facto embassy might seem symbolic relative to live-fire exercises and the long-term consequences of “gray zone” tactics, on the international front, politically ambiguous names marginalize Taiwan by reducing it to a city connected to China, creating an implicit subordination that does not reflect reality.
Calling Taiwanese establishments that represent the country abroad — especially diplomatic missions and national teams that project statehood — using terms that reflect the reality of Taiwan as an independent, vibrant, functioning democratic nation-state is critical in preserving Taiwan’s autonomy, way of life and unique identity.
It is up for the public to work alongside advocacy groups like FAPA to push for such meaningful changes.
Rath Wang is a political commentator based in Taipei focusing on Taiwanese politics, media, civil society and key issues influencing the country’s future. He is a producer and host of current affairs talk shows and podcasts and has worked on political campaigns and lived in Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and the US.
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