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Agence France-Presse

Mainland China boycotted the opening ceremony of the World University Games hosted by Taiwan on Saturday in the latest reflection of deteriorating relations between the two sides.
The biennial Summer Universiade, dubbed the “Little Olympics,” is the largest ever sporting event Taipei has hosted,
But the event has also highlighted tensions with Beijing and the island’s struggle to achieve international recognition.
It is the first time Taiwan has held the Games, but even on home turf it must compete as “Chinese Taipei” and is unable to fly its national flag or play its national anthem because of Beijing’s sensitivities.
The two sides split after the civil war in 1949, but Beijing still sees the self-ruled island as part of its territory and objects to any official diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.
 Beijing’s stealth boycott looms over World University Games in Taiwan
Relations have deteriorated since Tsai Ing-wen of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in May last year, with Beijing cutting off all official communications.
At the opening event, Tsai was introduced as the president of “the Republic of China”, Taiwan’s official name, which China does not recognise.
She waved to the audiences but did not give a speech.

Thousands of student athletes from around the world donned their team uniforms or traditional dress and walked behind the sign showing the name of their country and their national flags to the cheering crowd in Taipei Stadium.
However, no mainland Chinese athletes showed up to walk behind the staffer holding the national flag. Local media said they were absent due to the reference to Tsai as president.
Beijing reaches out to young Taiwanese with summertime sweeteners
Taipei’s mayor Ko Wen-je is widely seen to have secured mainland athletes’ attendance during his visit to Shanghai in July to attend a city exchange forum.
But he said he had drawn the line at Chinese officials’ request for Tsai only to be called “leader” at the opening ceremony, not “president”.

In the current climate, some expected mainland Chinese athletes to boycott the Universiade entirely.
Instead, they will compete in individual events but sit out the team sports, citing a clash with their own national games.
Beijing warms up to Taipei’s mayor
Outside the stadium, there were chaotic scenes when dozens of protesters opposing the government’s pension reforms scuffled with pro-DPP groups briefly before police separated them.
Protest groups also forced some buses taking athletes to the event to make a detour and later blocked an entrance to the stadium, causing a major delay in the athletes’ procession in the ceremony.
The International University Sports Federation called for a review of future arrangements after the incident.

The rest of Saturday night’s opening ceremony showcased Taiwanese culture and lifestyle, including indigenous dance and songs as well as performances using electric scooters.
Pop star Leehom Wang performed near the end of the show before Chen Chin-feng, a former Major League baseball player, lit the Universiade flame to formally open the games, followed by a firework show.


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Taiwan

Mainland China snubs 'Little Olympics' opening ceremony in Taiwan

No athletes from mainland China took part in the opening ceremony for the games in Taipei. Photo: EPA

Members of the Chinese Taipei team enter the stadium during in the opening ceremony of the 29th Summer Universiade Games at Taipei Municipal Stadium in Taipei on August 19, 2017. The biennial Summer Universiade, dubbed the "Little Olympics," is the largest ever sporting event Taipei hosts but it has also highlighted tensions with Beijing and the island's struggle for international recognition. The games will take place from August 19 to 30. / AFP PHOTO / -

Representatives hold Colombia, China and Chile's flags at the opening ceremony of 29th Summer Universiaden as a protest against the overhaul of the military and civil service pension funds blocks other participants from entering the venue, in Taipei, Taiwan, August 19, 2017. REUTERS/Eason Lam TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

epa06152099 A handout photo made available by the Taipei Universiade Organizing Committee shows Taiwan baseball player Chen Chin-feng preparing to light the Universiade torch by hitting a fiery ball onto the torch, at the opening ceremony of the 29th Universiade at the Taipei Stadium on 19 August 2017. President Tsai Ing-wen opened the event by welcoming friends from all over the world to attend this game. Some 142 countries are sending nearly 10,000 athletes and sports officials to the game which ends on 30 August. EPA/Universiade Organzing Committ HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

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Boycott of event held to mark start of World University Games highlights the increasingly strained relations between Beijing and Taipei


Mainland China snubs 'Little Olympics' opening ceremony in Taiwan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Boycott of event held to mark start of World University Games highlights the increasingly strained relations between Beijing and Taipei

Boycott of event held to mark start of World University Games highlights the increasingly strained relations between Beijing and Taipei