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TAIPEI: The dispute over international organizations referring to Taiwan as Chinese has shifted from wild bird conservation to climate change, after a global alliance of mayors began listing Taiwanese cities as belonging to China on its website.
China has increased pressure on international groups and companies, no matter how small or obscure, to refer to democratic Taiwan as part of China, to the anger of the Taiwanese government and many of its people.
Beijing views the island as a mere rebellious Chinese province.
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This month, a Taiwanese bird conservation body said it had been expelled from a partnership with a UK-based wildlife charity after they demanded the Taiwan group to change its name and sign documents stating that it did not. they supported the independence of Taiwan.
Late on Saturday (September 26), the Kaohsiung city government in southern Taiwan said that the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy website had begun listing Taiwanese member cities as she as part of China.
On Sunday, the Taiwanese government reacted angrily.
“Taiwan is Taiwan. China is China. Taiwan is not a city in China. If there is misuse, we think it is extremely inappropriate,” Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang told reporters.
“China hopes to make Taiwan part of itself in the world, a city of its own. This is not in line with the facts.”
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Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said it had asked the group to make a correction, while Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai said his city was known worldwide for being in southern Taiwan, rather than being part of from China.
The Global Compact secretariat said in a brief email to Reuters that “they may not be able to respond until business hours resume on Monday.”
The Global Compact says its mission is “to drive climate and energy action in cities around the world,” representing a population of more than 800 million. The only Chinese city listed as a member is Hong Kong.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
