Taipei: Taiwan has revised its cross-Taiwan Strait sports exchange guidelines to create a firmer legal basis for stopping Taiwanese nationals from competing for China's national teams in international sporting events, the Ministry of Sports said Monday. In a statement, the ministry emphasized that Taiwanese nationals joining a Chinese national team involves national identity and, as such, violates Article 33 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.
According to Focus Taiwan, the ministry felt the cross-Taiwan Strait sports exchange guidelines needed to reflect similar language after recent incidents. "To prevent similar incidents," the ministry stated, the intent of the law in Article 33 "has been incorporated into Article 7 of the guidelines, clearly declaring the policy bottom line for cross-strait sports exchanges."
While the new provision does not explicitly forbid Taiwanese nationals from joining Chinese national sports teams, it prohibits individuals from being part of any Chinese group that "involves national identity or fundamental loyalty, cross-strait United Front work, or that may endanger national security or interests." The ministry noted that penalties for violating this clause would align with provisions in the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.
Originally introduced by the former Sports Affairs Council in 1998, the guidelines have undergone five revisions. In its statement, the ministry also warned schools and sports organizations about increasingly diverse Chinese "united front" tactics, which include invitations offering fully funded trips or free local hospitality. The ministry advised invitees to thoroughly assess organizers' backgrounds, itineraries, and promotional materials and to avoid participating in national-level events organized by Chinese authorities that may have united front objectives.
The ministry added that it would continue to collaborate with the Mainland Affairs Council to inform sporting organizations and schools about the guidelines, relevant laws, and the latest cross-strait policies.