What’s in a name? A Taiwan towel stirs Asian Games controversy

From transport failures to playing the wrong national anthem, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games have seen their fair share of mishaps as they approach Sunday’s closing ceremony.

But the latest controversy over how fans express their support has drawn a different kind of attention to the Games’ restrictions on political messages, with even the organizer’s adviser raising eyebrows.

At a baseball game between Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and China on Friday, a spectator was stopped from displaying and waving a towel bearing the word “Taiwan.”

A staff member at the venue said it violated restrictions on political messages and asked that it be put away, reportedly prompting other Taiwanese fans to chant “Team Taiwan” in retaliation.

The following day, a notice at the stadium hosting another match informed the audience that Taiwan’s official Republic of China flag could not be brought inside.

“The organizers probably judged the latest incident as political activity and could disrupt the match. But I think they are being overly cautious,” said Tadamasa Fukiura, an adviser on national flags to the Aichi-Nagoya organizing committee, who is often considered a leading expert on flags in Japan.

While it’s up to the organizing committee to decide what constitutes prohibited political activism, Fukiura added that the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games does not have a clearly defined line.

Taiwan competes in the Olympics and Asian Games under the name Chinese Taipei, using its Olympic committee’s flag rather than the Republic of China flag.

The arrangement emerged from years of disputes over Beijing and Taipei’s representation in international sport, as more countries switched diplomatic recognition to the contemporary China.

In 1981, Taiwan’s Olympic committee reached an agreement with the International Olympic Committee confirming the Chinese Taipei name and using a different flag.

Last week’s intervention, however, concerned the name on a spectator’s towel, extending the controversy beyond the delegation’s official flag to how fans express their support.

The host’s published rules prohibit national flags of nonparticipating countries, and a separate provision restricts flags, banners, printed materials and other objects conveying political, ideological or religious claims.

Neither provision explicitly prohibits displaying the word “Taiwan” or requires spectators to use official delegation names when cheering.

Asked about the incident, the organizing committee’s press team told The Japan Times it had received reports that venue staff asked an audience member to refrain from displaying towels bearing country or region names other than those of participating nations.

“We understand the action was taken to avoid trouble with other spectators and ensure that everyone could watch the game safely,” the team said.

Fans and online commenters, meanwhile, have challenged the intervention, arguing that the name “Taiwan” alone does not constitute a political message.

The press team clarified that bringing in towels bearing the name Taiwan into the stadium itself was not prohibited under its rules and regulations.