The World Coffee Championships (WCC) recently changed all references to Taiwanese competitors from “Taiwan” to “Chinese Taipei,” including for recent World Latte Art champion Bala (林紹興), after suspected political pressure from China.
When Bala won the World Latte Art Championship in San Diego earlier this month, he was referred to as representing Taiwan on the WCC’s Web site until yesterday, when it was changed to “Chinese Taipei.”
One of the main sponsors of the competition was the Chinese company Luckin Coffee, suggesting that China had influence behind the scenes, a source familiar with the matter said.
Photo courtesy of DPP Legislator Michelle Lin
The Taiwan Coffee Association has for years participated in the WCC’s many international coffee competitions, sending outstanding competitors to vie with representatives from other nations.
As China invests more in the coffee sector, it has attempted to interfere with the long-standing designation used for Taiwan in international coffee competitions, sources said.
If Taiwan does not actively respond, this trend of “de-Taiwanization” could continue to expand, Taiwanese coffee industry leaders said.
Photo courtesy of DPP Legislator Michelle Lin
Berg Wu (吳則霖), who won the World Barista Championship in 2016, said on Facebook that he used the platform to represent Taiwan and raise awareness about Taiwan’s coffee community.
“Taiwan is not just a name. It is an identity and a shared memory built by many competitors, coaches, judges, cafes, roasters and all the consumers who have supported us along the way,” Wu said.
While international organizations face different considerations in different markets, any name changes should be transparently communicated with the relevant competitors, organizers and coffee communities, the barista said.
Coffee provides a medium for people to connect with each other and build mutual respect and understanding, he added.
World coffee competitions, while upholding fairness, professionalism and inclusiveness, can also respect where each competitor comes from and how they wish to be recognized, Wu said.
“To me, I come from Taiwan. And I hope future Taiwanese competitors can be recognized by the world as Taiwan,” he said.
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