The following is a list of the way in which China suppressed Taiwan on the international stage during the Chen Presidency. Things haven't improved greatly since Ma became President despite his claims to the contrary. Many many thanks to
China's Diplomatic Suppression of Taiwan 2005 - 2007
March 2005
After passing the "anti-separation law" (ASL) China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues a diplomatic notice pressuring more than 60 countries, including Vanuatu, Tanzania, Cuba, Azerbaijan, and Madagascar, to express criticism of Taiwan and support for the ASL.
Early April 2005
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), sponsor of the AAAA Trade Show, announces that the billboard at the show entrance will feature the exhibiting countries and their flags, including the flag of Taiwan, which is to be presented side by side with those of the United States, Japan, and China. Moreover, a large banner and billboard with the word "Taiwan" will be erected at the area for Taiwan exhibitors. Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney is intensely dissatisfied and lodges a protest with the sponsor demanding that Taiwan's flag be removed from the billboard. Consulate officials also deliver a letter of protest from Consul General Qiu Shaofang to the show venue demanding that the sponsor meet with him and take responsibility for settling this matter.
Early April 2005
Vice President Yeh Ching-lung of the National Teachers' Association ROC and three others go to France to attend the “EI Conference on GATS and Education” that takes place in Paris on April 4-5, 2005. During the conference, China's representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) demands that the UNESCO General Conference prohibit Taiwan's representatives from entering the UN headquarters to attend the meeting. After the UNESCO secretary-general speaks on behalf of the Taiwan representatives and issues a warning, the representatives are finally able to attend the meeting.
Late April 2005
The ROC embassy to the Dominican Republic is invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Santo Domingo International Book Fair in the Dominican Republic. After the ceremony, Cai Weiquan, China's commercial representative in the Dominican Republic asks fair staff to place a PRC name plaque and tabletop PRC flag at Taiwan's exhibition booth, intending to disrupt Taiwan's participation in the activity.
May 4-6, 2005
The “World Health Organization (WHO) Conference on the Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia” is held in Phuket, Thailand. A six-member delegation from Taiwan, including Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai, head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at National Cheng Kung University Hospital, attends the conference in the capacity of “participants.” China places intensive pressure to prevent the Taiwanese delegates from attending the opening ceremony.
Early May 2005
Ten days before the opening of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the Chinese delegation sends an official diplomatic note to the Geneva delegations of Taiwan's allies, using untruthful language to again distort the importance and legitimacy of Taiwan's application to become a WHA observer and substantively participate in the International Health Regulations (IHR), and demands that Taiwan's allies not support the application.
May 25, 2005
Council of Labor Affairs Chairwoman Chen Chu leads a delegation to participate in the 38th WorldSkills Competition in Finland. Due to China’s deliberate suppression, the host country issues an official letter notifying that Taiwan will not be permitted to use its national flag at the competition.
Early June 2005
Under pressure from China, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat omits the official titles (such as Counselor, First Secretary, Second Secretary and Third Secretary) of the members of Taiwan's Permanent Mission to the WTO, except for the titles of the Permanent Representative and Deputy Permanent Representative, in the newly published WTO members directory. The directory entries include only the names and duties of the officials.
Late July 2005
Taiwan's ambassador to the Dominican Republic John Feng and China's Commercial Representative in the Dominican Republic Cai Weiquan are invited at the same time to attend a groundbreaking ceremony at the Chinatown district of the capital Santo Domingo. Cai's staff arrives early at the event and stubbornly occupies the seats of honor for the diplomatic corps. Event personnel try three times to vacate the seats, to no avail. The matter is finally resolved after Ambassador Feng negotiates with the sponsor to get back the seats for Taiwan's delegation members.
August 2005
According to a report in Switzerland's Neue Zurcher Zeitung, the Chinese embassy in Switzerland lodges a protest with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs over a visit to Taiwan in August by the president of the Swiss Council of States. Wang Yanmin, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, expresses strong dissatisfaction to the Swiss government and states that countries maintaining diplomatic relations with China are not permitted to have any kind of contact with Taiwanese officials
August 12, 2005
China's United Nations (UN) ambassador Wang Guangya issues a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan protesting motions by Taiwan's allies in support of Taiwan's bid to join the UN and a petition urging the UN to help maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.
September 2005
In response to transit stops by President Chen Shui-bian in the United States (US) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) en route to Central America, China seriously takes up the matter with the US and UAE and expresses its strong dissatisfaction. China also clearly states its position to the Indonesian government after Typhoon Longwang forces President Chen's plane to make a provisionary stop in Bali.
Mid-September 2005
Fearing Chinese pressure, Syria refuses to provide visas for Taiwan's delegation to the 15th Conference of the Afro-Asian Rural Development Organization Conference (AARDO), of which Taiwan has been a member since 1968. The move deprives Taiwan of its participation and voting rights at the conference.
October 2005
Internet search engine Google obtains an operating license in China and at the same time declares that it identifies with Beijing's "One China" policy. Google’s Map Service entitles a map of Taiwan as a “province of China.”
October 2005
Due to intense suppression and intimidation by China, Chinese language media in Brunei, including the United Daily News, See Hua Daily News, International Times and Sin Chew Daily, are instructed by their main offices not to publish originally planned special reports on Taiwan's National Day celebrations.
In the capacity of member of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Chinese ambassador to Papua New Guinea Li Zhengjun hosts a dinner for all SPTO members. During the dinner he emphasizes that, based on the “one China” policy, the Taiwan issue is a matter of China's internal affairs and China strongly opposes Taiwan's membership in the SPTO. At the 15th SPTO Council of Ministers, China reiterates its firm opposition to Taiwan's membership in the organization.
Mid-October 2005
Chinese ambassador to Canada Lu Shumin issues a warning to the Canadian government stating that if the Canadian parliament approves a bill to establish official economic, trade and cultural relations with Taiwan, it will destroy the basis of Sino-Canadian relations.
October 25, 2005
After having received monetary incentives from China, Senegal announces that it decides to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
October 25, 2005
At the press conference after the “Health Ministers Meeting on Global Pandemic Influenza Readiness,” Chinese Minister of Health Qiang Gao reiterates that Taiwan is not a sovereign country and therefore does not meet the regulations for membership in the World Health Organization.
November 2005
China obstructs participation by Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng as representative of President Chen Shui-bian at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Leaders Summit in Busan, Korea.
November 17, 2005
More than 10 overseas supporters of Taiwan carry ROC flags and vest with ROC flag designs to the venue of the First Asian Indoor Games in Bangkok to root for Taiwanese competitors. China lodges a protest with the sponsor and tries several times to interfere. However, overseas Taiwanese involved argue persuasively that they are spectators and not members of the Taiwanese delegation, ultimately preventing China from achieving its scheme to belittle Taiwan.
December 2005
The Australian government rapidly incurs the protest of the Chinese authorities over plans to send the Minister for Education, Science and Training on a visit to Taiwan at the end of 2005. China states that countries maintaining diplomatic relations with it should not send ministers or other high-ranking officials to visit Taiwan, and therefore it strongly opposes the Australian government's sending of ministers to Taiwan for visits.
Late January 2006
The Chinese government, Commission of European Union, and World Bank jointly hold the "International Ministerial Pledging Conference on Avian and Human Pandemic Influenza," attended by nearly 700 representatives from over 100 countries. Taiwan has clearly expressed interest in attending, but it is still excluded in the end.
Late January 2006
China's embassy in Indonesia demands that Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not violate the “one China” policy and cannot agree to Taiwan's request to allow its naval fleet to visit Indonesia.
February 13, 2006
Under China’s suppression, the sponsor of the 9th World Firefighters Games in Hong Kong prohibits Taiwanese contestants from bringing their national flag, membership flag and firefighter banners into the game venue, as contestants from other countries are allowed to do so. China also forces Taiwan’s team to change its name to "China Taipei," making it part of the Chinese delegation. Taiwan vigorously protests the move without effect and finally decides to withdraw from the contest.
China lodges two demands with the European Union (EU) to suppress Taiwan's diplomatic space: (1) It hopes that EU member countries will refuse Taiwan to hold regional coordination work report meetings and prevent Taiwan's minister of foreign affairs from presiding at the meetings; and (2) It hopes that the EU will block Taiwan's attempts to join the WHO. In other words, Taiwan should not be allowed to join international organizations open only to countries.
April 2006
Taiwan is a major supporter and board member of the International Crisis Group (ICG). However, when China is invited to join the ICG, it not only demands that Taiwan change its membership name to "Chinese Taipei," but also demands that no officials from Taiwan participate in the organization activities.
April 20, 2006
Haiti's newly elected president René Préval indicates to ROC Ambassador Yang his hope that Taiwan send less sensitive officials to attend the May 14 presidential inaugural ceremony. The request is aimed at avoiding China's obstruction at the United Nations (UN) Security Council in August 2006 to the extension of the stationing of UN peacekeeper forces in Haiti, which will affect the stability and development of Haiti.
Early May 2006
The APEC Ministerial Meeting on Avian and Influenza Pandemics is held in Vietnam. Vietnam's Ministry of Health originally agrees to the signing of a "Taiwan-Vietnam Memorandum of Cooperation on Prevention of Avian Influenza" between Vietnam's National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and Taiwan's Center for Disease Control under the Department of Health at the meeting. However, coercion and suppression from China prevents the two sides from completing the signing formalities.
May 2006
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) refuses to allow Taiwan to join the organization as a member. The ISO 3166 directory of names of countries and territories lists “Taiwan” as “Taiwan, Province of China” due to Chinese pressure.
May 12, 2006
Under pressure from China, the International Hospital Federation (IHF) deliberates the matter of Taiwan's membership under the name of "Taiwan Hospital Association" (THA) at a meeting of the IHF Governing Council. The IHF not only resolves to change Taiwan's membership name to “Taiwan Hospital Association, China”, but it also demands that the THA sign a memorandum that is aimed at belittling the name and position of Taiwan.
May 22, 2006
At the 59th World Health Assembly (WHA), China brazenly thwarts a motion for Taiwan's membership. Chinese Health Minister Gao Qiang also raises four principles, intentionally manipulating the illusion of helping to resolve the matter of health cooperation with Taiwan and Taiwan's participation in international health activities within the "one China" framework.
Late May 2006
The PRC chapter of the Lions Club places diplomatic pressure on Lions Clubs International to demand that the membership name of the Taiwan chapter be changed from “MD300-Taiwan” to “MD300-China Taiwan.”
July 2006
Chinese diplomatic personnel in Geneva intend to lobby the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) not to accept financial assistance from Taiwan.
August 5, 2006
Influenced by the incentives of financial aid and military wares from China, Chad announces that it decides to sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
China's acting permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) issues a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan protesting a motion for Taiwan's membership in the UN raised this year by Taiwan's allies. The letter states that Taiwan has been an indivisible part of China's territory since early times and that the Taiwan issue is the internal affair of China.
End of August, 2006
During the 40th International Children's Games (ICG) in Bangkok, members of the Beijing delegation team thrice wrest away the ROC flag draped on Taiwan's gold medalists.
September 2006
China forcefully obstructs Chinese Petroleum Corporation's promotion of an investment project at a petrochemical complex in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
September 2006
The International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) originally plans to publish an image advertisement in the September 2006 issue of the World Bank quarterly “Perspectives on Development.” However, the World Bank demands that the official English name and identity symbol of the fund be changed from "Taiwan ICDF" to "Chinese Taipei ICDF."
Late September 2006
International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) President Doeke Faber explains the background of the forced cancellation of the AIPH annual meeting and the association's principles and position in handling the matter. He states that the meeting has to be canceled because of political factors related to China's demand that the name of the Taiwan Floriculture Development Association be changed and that activities sponsored by Taiwan receive the approval of the China Flower Association.
September 27, 2006
The World Economic Forum (WEF) originally refers to Taiwan as “Taiwan” in its reports. However, at a press conference on the announcement of the WEF's March 2006 "Global Information Technology Report," Ambassador Sha Zukang, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, protests the use of the name "Taiwan" in the "Country" items. In order to avoid dispute, the WEF changes Taiwan's name to "Taiwan, China" in its "Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007," published on September 27, 2006.
November 8, 2006
The Union of International Fairs (UFI) convenes its annual session in Beijing. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) originally plans to send a delegation to attend the meeting. However, the sponsor sends a written reply informing that due to the demands of the host country China, TAITRA must add "China" or "Chinese" to all references to Taiwan or Taipei in the council's name and address. After lodging an ineffective protest, Taiwan withdraws from the meeting.
November 2006
Taiwan is an official member of the International Competition Network (ICN) under the name of "Taiwan." Since China has not drafted a competition law, it is unqualified to be a member in the organization. However, in order to join the ICN in 2007 as an observer, China demands that Taiwan change its membership name.
Late November 2006
Mao Rubo, director of the Environment and Resources Protection Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), leads an NPC delegation to visit Taiwan's ally Costa Rica and signs an environmental protection cooperation agreement.
A delegation from China's National People's Congress visits Taiwan allies Guatemala and Nicaragua and discusses cooperation plans with the civil aviation industries there.
January 2007
China seriously takes up with the United States (US) the matter of President Chen Shui-bian's transit stop in the United States en route to Nicaragua. It even pressures Mexico to disallow President Chen’s plane to fly over Mexico's flight information region.
January 2007
China pressures Korea to change the nationality on visas issued to Taiwanese exchange students to "China."
February 2007
According to a report by Japan's Sankei Shimbun, China uses its veto power to block United Nations' peacekeeping efforts in Haiti, thus causing Taiwan’s ally Haiti to issue a letter to China stating that it will no longer support Taiwan's bid to join the UN.
