TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) 鈥� Taiwan鈥檚 premier wants a Taiwanese Olympic speedskater to be punished for wearing what appeared to be a suit from China鈥檚 team during training.
Symbols of the two sides are especially sensitive at a time when China's ruling Communist Party, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory even though the island has long operated with its own government, is trying to intimidate the democracy by flying fighter jets and bombers nearby.
Huang Yu-ting, one of four Taiwanese athletes at the Winter Games, posted a video on her social media page Jan. 23 showing her training in what appeared to be a Chinese suit, the Central News Agency reported. It said Huang apologized and removed the video.
Premier Su Tseng-chang asked the Ministry of Education and the Sports Administration to investigate so Huang would 鈥渞eceive an adequate punishment,鈥� CNA reported, citing a Cabinet spokesperson, Lo Ping-cheng.
The Olympics are one facet of a wide-ranging campaign by Beijing to isolate Taiwan.
The International Olympic Committee requires Taiwanese athletes to compete under the name 鈥淐hinese Taipei,鈥� which obscures the island鈥檚 longstanding self-ruled status.
Taiwan鈥檚 Sports Administration said Huang would face no penalty but should be 鈥渕ore aware of the sensitivity of cross-Taiwan Strait politics,鈥� according to CNA.
The Taiwanese team leader at the Olympics, Steven Chen, said the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee would review in April whether Huang was wearing the appropriate clothing, according to CNA.
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The Associated Press
