Taiwan fans make statement in Tokyo before WBC openerReuters, TOKYOThousands of Taiwanese fans yesterday descended on the Tokyo Dome for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) opener, displaying banners proclaiming “Team Taiwan” as opposed to their official designation in the tournament, Chinese Taipei. Taiwan has long competed in international sport as “Chinese Taipei” to avoid objections from China. Outside the Tokyo Dome, self-described “fan activists” clad in the red, white and blue of Taiwan’s flag led chants of “Go Taiwan” in Mandarin and “Team Taiwan” in English. Taiwan fans wave flags and hold a banner outside Tokyo Stadium before Taiwan’s World Baseball Classic Pool C opener against Australia yesterday. “Especially after [the 2024 Premier12] games, I feel like they had a huge, huge impact on all of Taiwan.

Source: Taipei Times March 05, 2026 18:10 UTC