TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) spokesperson on Monday (Dec. 2) criticized attempts to politically diminish Taiwan's status to "Taipei, China," asserting that such rhetoric is unacceptable to the Taiwanese people.
A political storm brewed in Taiwan after a Chinese student's comments on Dec. 1 sparked controversy. Sung Ssu-yao (宋思瑤), from Fudan University (復旦大學), congratulated the "Taipei, China" (中國台北) team on their WBSC Premier 12 victory, igniting public debate. Sung expressed hope for collaboration between mainland and Taiwanese baseball enthusiasts, akin to the Chinatrust Brothers (中信兄弟).
Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Taiwan's former president, had invited the Chinese student group, many of whom are reportedly Communist Youth League (中國共產主義青年團) or Communist Party members, to Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium (台中洲際棒球場) for a baseball experience.
DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng (吳崢) highlighted the unity displayed by Taiwanese fans, who set aside political differences to support their national team. He quoted Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL, 中華職棒) President Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) and Chinese Taipei Baseball Association (CTBA, 中華民國棒球協會) Chairman Jeffrey Koo, Jr. (辜仲諒), who praised the solidarity shown by Taiwanese fans traveling to Japan.