China forces cancellation of 2019 East Asian Youth Games in Taiwan

July 26, 2018

TAIPEI – Taiwan has condemned what it calls “China’s politically motivated pressure” on the East Asian Olympic Committee to cancel the 2019 East Asian Youth Games in central Taiwan’s Taichung City “in the strongest possible terms”. The move represented political meddling in sports, the Office of the President said, adding that “China’s irrational behaviour and the EAOC’s erroneous decision are extremely regrettable”. 

Cancellation of the games at this late stage marks the latest move in Beijing’s campaign to suppress Taiwan’s international space and advance its agenda through exerting pressure in nonpolitical arenas, the Office of the President said. The office called on the international community to recognize the harm China’s conduct poses to the stability, security and well-being of international society.

 The East Asian Youth Games are the successor to the East Asian Games, which were held every four years from 1993 to 2013, with the last event taking place in Tianjin, China.

Set for August 2019, the youth games were expected to draw over 2,300 athletes from the nine EAOC members—Taiwan, China, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea and South Korea. 
Taiwan’s Cabinet has also strongly denounced China’s interference in the EAOC, resulting in the revocation of Taichung’s right to host the Games. “Beijing’s sabotaging of the competition damages regional sports development for political gain,” the Cabinet said.
 Taiwan’s Premier, Lai Ching-te, had instructed the Sports Administration under the Ministry of Education to extend full support to Taichung City Government and the nation’s Olympic committee as they lodge a formal protest with the EAOC, the Cabinet said.
 
Taiwan’s  Ministry of Foreign Affairs said China’s behaviour was not conducive to the peaceful development of cross-strait ties, saying China’s success in cancelling the Games served as a stark warning to other parties “of what lies ahead if they refuse to kowtow to Beijing”.
 
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council described China’s behaviour as a clear violation of the principles of the Olympic Charter. Taichung won the right to host the Games in 2014, and  to date has invested about NT$670 million (US$20.5 million) on preparations.
 
www.ttonline@mofa.gov.tw   (ATI)