When Miss Chen Szu-yu arrived in Panama in May, she was known as Miss Taiwan. However, after her arrival, she was told that she would have to change her name to Miss Chinese Taipei. Why is this, you may ask? Simply, Beijing's bullying.
Taiwan annually has a Miss Taiwan pageant, so naturally the winner os crowned Miss Taiwan. This makes sense that the person representing your country carry the name of that country. However, Beijing continues to hold to the insane notion that Taiwan is a part of the territory of the PRC, even though they have never had possession of the island and the people of Taiwan choose their own leadership through direct elections.
The Miss Universe Pageant and NBC shamelessly gave into Beijing's bullying even though this competition has nothing to do with offical government relations. This is a private organization! Even if you accept Beijing's criminal notion that Taiwan is a part of its territory, other non-state entities have their representatives. Is Miss Hong Kong known as Miss Chinese Hong Kong? Is Miss Puerto Rico known as Miss American Puerto Rico? Of course not. This notion that Miss Taiwan must be known as Miss Chinese Taipei is rediculous. What is she isn't from Taipei, but rather Taichung, Kaohsiung or some other city on Taiwan.
All of this occurred despite a provision in the contract between Miss Taiwan and Miss Universe authorities that she would be able to use the title "Miss Taiwan" at the pageant. This is something that should be seen as unacceptible by a country that respects the rule of law. Of course, Taiwan has the moral high ground here as it is a democracy, China is a totalitarian dictatorship.
Of course, we all know that Beijing cares nothing for the feelings of the 23 million free people who live on the island of Taiwan. Why the civilized world keeps rewarding these bullies is something that many people in Taiwan simply do not understand. I am one of them.
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