Date: July 24, 2018
MAC Press Release No. 50
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) issued the following statement on the decision by an extraordinary meeting of the East Asian Olympic Committee (EAOC) this morning (July 24, 2018) to revoke Taichung's right to host the 2019 East Asian Youth Games:
(1) The decision by the EAOC to revoke Taichung's right to host the 2019 East Asian Youth Games clearly owes to strong-arm political intervention by Beijing to obstruct Taichung City from hosting the international sporting event. Such actions violate the spirit of the Olympic Charter. The MAC solemnly protests, condemns, and expresses intense dissatisfaction over Beijing's crude behavior.
(2) The Taichung City Government won the right to host the 2019 East Asian Youth Games in October 2014. Its hosting rights should be ensured under the contract officially signed by the three parties (the Taichung City Government, Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, and East Asian Games Association). The Taichung City Government has completed the various host city organizing tasks according to the contract. The people of Taiwan had high expectations that the competition would be held as scheduled until it was politically undermined by Beijing.
(3) The Beijing-dominated EAOC revoked the right of Taiwan to host the East Asian Youth Games in Taichung City due to a referendum initiated by a civic organization to rectify the name of Taiwan's team at the Tokyo Olympics. This decision is entirely without reason or basis. It also shows disregard and ignorance of Taiwan's democratic process and further highlights Beijing's unreasonable actions to peremptorily pressure Taiwan in the international arena. It is an affront to every person of Taiwan. It also has a serious negative impact on cross-Strait relations. The MAC appeals to the international community to strongly condemn Beijing for its irrational actions to politically interfere with international sporting events and pressure Taiwan. The MAC will fully support the Taichung City Government in issuing a formal protest to the EOCA and fighting for Taichung City's hosting rights under the original plan.