Winter Olympics: Taiwan skater who wore China outfit may be punished; premier says her conduct ‘extremely improper’
- Huang Yu-ting posted a video to social media showing herself wearing the suit of the China national speedskating team, causing an uproar back home
- ‘Athletes on the national team … should maintain our national dignity and honour. Her conduct … failed to meet public expectations,’ Premier Su says
Taiwan’s government has denounced one of its Olympic flag-bearers after the speed skater was seen in an online video wearing the suit of the Chinese national team, with one lawmaker calling her attire the “uniform of the enemy”.
China and Taiwan have been at odds for decades as Beijing regards the island as its territory, vowing to seize it one day – by force if necessary.
Self-ruled, democratic Taiwan is often held up as a bastion of liberalism but authorities have said Olympian Huang Yu-ting could be punished after she hit a nerve in January when she posted a clip of herself in the Chinese suit.
She removed the video following a barrage of criticism, explaining later that a Chinese friend had given her the uniform and she wore it “for friendship”. As the Beijing Winter Olympics drew to a close over the weekend, an official said Huang will be investigated and faces “appropriate punishment” at the orders of Taiwanese Premier Su Tseng-chang.
Su on Monday reiterated that a probe into Huang’s conduct was under way. “Athletes on the national team … should maintain our national dignity and honour,” the premier told reporters. “Her conduct was extremely improper and failed to meet public expectations.”
The 33-year-old was among four Taiwanese athletes competing at the Olympics over the past two weeks. She drew more ire during the Games when she said in an interview with Chinese media that she felt “at home” competing in Beijing.