IOC: Olympic Torch To Skip Taiwan

Decision Comes After Breakdown Of Negotiations Between Taiwan And China

(AP)  Negotiations between Taiwan and China on the torch relay route for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games are at a dead end, and the torch will not come to Taiwan, The International Olympic Committee said Friday.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, the IOC said that it had been following discussions between China's and Taiwan's Olympic committees and that a “solution between the two has not been found ... The route will now have to go ahead without a stop in Chinese Taipei.”

“Chinese Taipei” is a term often used internationally for the island or its sports teams. Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, and communist Beijing still claims the democratic, self-governed island as Chinese territory. Taipei is Taiwan's capital.

“The IOC would have liked to see the participation of people from Chinese Taipei, but acknowledge this will not be possible given the fact the two parties have not reached an agreement,” said the e-mail from Emmanuelle Moreau, media relations manager from the International Olympic Committee.

[sunseeker6]

Thought the Olympics was about the best competing for their Country, Free or Communist? What happened that Tawain isn''t allowed to have the torch pass thru? Are they going to be allowed to compete if China says no? I think it''s sad the IOC won''t let the torch pass thru Tawain. What about other Free Countries once ruled by another, should they skip them also? Might as well skip the USA since we once were owned by England. Obviously, to the IOC becoming an independent nation doesn''t mean anything. Who''s China to say "NO"?

[juwboy]

linfinster:

Don''t you know anything about the post-WWII history of China and Taiwan?

Don''t you know that Taiwan, with full support of the US, was referred to as "China" and was one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, with full veto power, until about 1970?

Also, didn''t you know that mainland China, due to US veto power, was excluded from UN membership until that date?

[linfinster]

I wonder what breakdown in talk occurred? How is it that a country is not allowed to have the torch run through it, and why were negotiations needed?

[colonieny]

This is a sad state of affairs. US would do well do step back and not participate. Jummy Carter was the PResident who wanted to throw Taiwan overboard ! He did this during XMAS recess ( the as) but the congress beat a path back to stop him , evn giving up their New Years. The US back the democracy of Taiwan, the really free Chna.

[incog-nito]

Another sign that the world is betraying democratic Taiwan and bowing down to China, a dictatorship with a dismal human rights record, all because of cheap labor. It''s always been about money, never about democracy or human rights.