Taiwan’s overdue name changeBy Rath Wang 王健智Taiwanese pragmatism has long been praised when it comes to addressing Chinese attempts to erase Taiwan from the international stage. “Taipei” and the even more inaccurate and degrading “Chinese Taipei,” imposed titles required to participate in international events, are loathed by Taiwanese. Not only does it hamper Taiwan’s efforts to project its soft power, it also warps the international perception of Taiwan, severely restricting countries from aiding Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. Throughout history the power of public perception has influenced democracies. That was evident at the World Baseball Classic, where Taiwan must compete as “Chinese Taipei” at the behest of China.

Source: Taipei Times March 17, 2026 17:39 UTC