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If the Uniform Says Taiwan, Why Call the Team “Chinese Taipei”?

 

I recently saw the uniform announced for the team representing Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic. The jersey clearly says Taiwan across the chest, and the Taiwanese flag is displayed proudly. There is nothing on that uniform that says “Chinese Taipei.”

 

Yet the official name used in international competitions is still Chinese Taipei.

 

This has always puzzled me. The World Baseball Classic is organized by Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Softball Confederation. It is not the Olympic Games. In the Olympic Games, Taiwan participates under the name “Chinese Taipei” because of agreements tied to the International Olympic Committee. That political compromise was created decades ago to allow Taiwan to compete internationally while avoiding direct confrontation with the People's Republic of China.

 

But baseball is different. The World Baseball Classic is a professional tournament, not an Olympic event. So why continue using a name that clearly does not reflect what the players themselves represent?

 

Look at the uniform.
Look at the fans.
Listen to the commentators.

 

Everyone calls the team Taiwan.

 

This is not about politics as much as it is about honesty. If a team represents the people of Taiwan, then calling them by another name simply feels outdated. It feels like something left over from another era.

 

Sports are supposed to celebrate identity, pride, and competition. When players step onto the field wearing a jersey that proudly says “Taiwan,” that identity is already clear.

 

At some point, international sports organizations may have to ask themselves a simple question:

 

If the uniform says Taiwan, why are we still calling the team something else?

 

https://en.bloguru.com/ken/553192/not-chinese-taipei