In light of China's obstruction of Taiwan's participation in world bodies, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday urged the nation to unite and be prepared to cope with China's "incessant suppression of Taiwan."
"It is not surprising that where there is Taiwan, there is China's unreasonable suppression," Lu said.
PHOTO: CNA
"As such, I suggest the government and the people be well-prepared at all times when attending international events. We should prepare signs that read `Shame on China!' and be ready to use them when we encounter their suppression," she added.
Lu made the remarks in response to China's move to suppress Taiwan's visibility at the ongoing Nuremberg International Invention Exhibition (NIIE) in Germany.
A clash between delegates from Taiwan and China almost broke out at the exhibition site on the event's opening ceremony last Wednesday, when the Chinese delegation demanded that the Republic of China (ROC) flag be removed from Taiwan's booth.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michel Lu (呂慶龍), Taiwan's representative office in Munich helped the Taiwan delegation negotiate with the NIIE organizers.
After the confrontation between Chinese and Taiwanese representatives took place, a decision was made to disallow all countries participating in the event from displaying their national flags.
Noting that the NIIE is a non-governmental event, Lu said China's attempt to suppress Taiwan's participation in the exhibit has gravely hurt the Taiwanese people's feelings and is counterproductive to the improvement of cross-strait relations.
Lu said MOFA staff in Munich have been assisting the Taiwan delegation in fighting against China's actions and that she has kept close contact with Chou Hsiu-chen (周秀珍), chairwoman of the Child Welfare League Foundation, who is a member of the Taiwanese delegation at the exhibition.
"The NIIE decision to remove all national flags was the result of the MOFA staff's hard work," Lu said.
"China's suppressive act was not unexpected. We were well prepared and our top priority is to protect our right to participate," she added.
Responding to reports that the Chinese delegation had put pressure on exhibit organizers to ban Taiwanese journalists from covering the event, Lu said such a demand was immoral and that if the reports are true, the MOFA has worked out response strategies.
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