As Taiwan celebrated its baseball team’s victory in the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s Premier12 on Sunday, how politicians referred to the team in their congratulatory messages reflected the nation’s political divide.
Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei (中華台北隊), made history with its first-ever Premier12 championship after beating Japan 4-0 at the Tokyo Dome.
Right after the game, President William Lai (賴清德) congratulated the team via a post on his Facebook page.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Besides the players, Lai also lauded the team’s coaching and medical staff, and the fans cheering for them in Tokyo or watching the live broadcast, saying that “every one of these are members of Team Taiwan.”
The American Institute in Taiwan posted a message saying: “Congratulations! Taiwan made history tonight.”
Democratic Progressive Party on its social media platforms wrote “Taiwan No. 1!” adding that “we are all together with one heart for Team Taiwan.”
On the other hand, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and its leaders in their messages referred to the team as “Team Zhonghua” (中華隊) or “Chinese Taipei.”
Some online users criticized New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) of the KMT after he wrote online saying: “Team Chinese Taipei won the championship of Premier12 tournament... Thank you, Team Chinese Taipei, for making history! Thanks fans!”
A user, named Liang (梁), responded: “Why not just use ‘Team Taiwan’ which is much simpler?”
CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌), a sitting DPP Legislator, used more neutral terms.
“World champions! Our national team defeated opponents along the way, including the hosts in the title game at the Tokyo Dome to end Japan’s streak of 27 consecutive wins at international competitions,” Tsai wrote.
Taiwan People’s Party also congratulated the team on social media.
“This is the first world title for our national baseball team... It is wonderful that we have done it. It shows Taiwanese players have no limits when they display their full efforts.”
A survey by Taiwan New Constitution Foundation during the Tokyo Olympics held in summer of 2021 showed that 65.1 percent of Taiwanese would cheer for the nation’s athletes at major competitions as “Team Taiwan,” while 25.7 percent would call them “Chinese Taipei,” or “Team Zhonghua.”
The poll also said that 83.4 percent support using the name “Taiwan” when participating at international tournaments.
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