Taiwan Raises Concerns Over Flag Ban at World Choir Games

Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Tuesday expressed concern to Interkultur, the organizer of the 14th World Choir Games held in Sweden, after it allegedly barred spectators from displaying the Republic of China (Taiwan) flag last week. Eric Huang, director-general of MOFA's Department of European Affairs, stated that his department had asked Taiwan's representative offices in Sweden and Germany, where Interkultur is located, to investigate the situation and communicate Taiwan's stance to the organizer. According to Focus Taiwan, Huang urged Interkultur to uphold the event's inclusiveness and respect the rights of free expression and media freedom. This appeal was made following an incident outside Helsingborg Concert Hall, where a Swedish supporter, Jorgen Grugaard, was stopped by event staff after unfurling an ROC flag while speaking with a CNA reporter. The staff warned that the reporter's press accreditation could be revoked if the flag appeared in news coverage, citing the "Olympic M odel" under which Taiwanese teams compete as "Chinese Taipei." Interkultur declined an interview on the flag issue but provided a written statement to CNA. The organization explained that its events have adhered to the same regulations since 2000, based on the "Olympic idea" and the 1979 Nagoya Resolution, which involve using the name "Chinese Taipei" for Taiwan's participation. Interkultur referenced an agreement involving the People's Republic of China and Chinese Taipei reached in Linz, Austria, in 2000 as part of its reasoning. During the MOFA weekly briefing, Huang emphasized that the international choral competition, which concluded on Sunday, was not the Olympic Games and should not be subject to the "Olympic Model." He reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the right of the government and civic groups to participate in international activities on an equal footing.