Taipei: Taiwan’s Olympic medal flew home with a big welcome on Wednesday after the best game show that had increased the pride on the island claimed by China and revived the call to compete with the name Taiwan.
Four Mirage Combat Jets, fired a flare, delivered a flight before landing at Taoyuan airport near the capital of Taipei, where the crowd welcomed the team shouting “proud of Taiwan” and signed the “welcome home” sign.
With 11 medals so far in Tokyo, Taiwan’s performance has brought the joy on the island, with politicians and celebrities joining to mark their social media celebrations “Taiwan Team” and “Taiwan is Taiwan”.
It has also revived the debate whether it must compete as “Taiwan” rather than “Taipei China”, a name used in the insistence of Beijing, which sees the island as part of “one Chinese” and has threatened to use the power to carry the island carrying it on democratic under control.
China regularly suppress international groups and companies to refer to Taiwan as part of China, saying it does not have the right to recognition in each field as a separate country.
“It’s a deadlock to look for ‘independence’ in a sporting event with a small trick,” said the Chinese Taiwan Affairs office in a statement for Reuters on Tuesday.
In the 2018 referendum, the voters on the island rejected the proposal to enter the Olympics as “Taiwan”, with many who were worried that changing the name would ask Beijing to block it from the game completely.
Among those who returned home on Wednesday were Lee who and Wang Chi-Lin, who beat China to win the badminton foundation gold medal on Saturday and became a sensation by preaching their Taiwan’s identity on their social media.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a combat jet.
It’s very cool,” Wang, was greeted by Cheers, told reporters.
At Facebook post with photos of jets with passenger planes and pilots preparing for the mission of escort, the Taiwan defense ministry thanked the athletes.
“You show the world of Taiwan’s persistent spirit,” the ministry wrote.
In China, the celebration of Taiwan’s identity on the island has sparked anger online, especially after TV celebrity Dee Hsu, who has the main followers in China, refers to the island Olympics as a “national athlete”.
“Don’t try to make money on mainland China.
Return to Taiwan,” Write a social media posters in Weibo like Chinese Twitter.