◎ Akio Yaita
In the Asian Games baseball game in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, Taiwan defeated China 9-1. It was originally a normal game, but it caused another disturbance because of a towel in the audience.
A Taiwanese fan took out a towel with "Taiwan" written on it to cheer, but the staff stopped him because it "involved political expressions." The fan asked on the spot: "If Taiwan is politics, why is it okay to hold the Chinese flag?" Other spectators around also supported the fan, and cheers for "Team Taiwan" rang out in the venue.
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After this incident was reported by local media, it quickly aroused a backlash in Japanese society. Senator Haruo Kitamura said bluntly: "As a Japanese, I feel really ashamed of this kind of operation." Former National Public Security Commissioner Hitoshi Matsubara publicly asked: "What's going on at the Asian Games?!" Japanese scholar Tsuyoshi Nojima, who has long observed Taiwan, criticized the conference as an "overreaction" and it was unreasonable to even restrict the word "Taiwan". Many Japanese media also reported extensively with the title "The Chinese flag is OK, why not Taiwan?"
At the Nagoya Asian Games baseball game, a Taiwanese fan took out a towel with "Taiwan" written on it to cheer, but the staff stopped him because it "involved political expressions." Fans asked on the spot: "If Taiwan is politics, why is it okay to hold the Chinese flag?" (Taken from the post)
It is not uncommon for Taiwanese athletes to be suppressed by the international community. However, it has become clear recently that public opinion in support of Taiwan is growing.
I think there are actually three important changes behind the turmoil in Nagoya:
First, Taiwanese people have changed. In the past, many people were accustomed to cheering for the players in accordance with the norms of "Chinese Taipei" in international competitions. But now more and more people think that since I am from Taiwan, cheering for "Taiwan" is the most natural thing.
Second, Taiwan’s sports have become stronger. Taiwan has had a limited presence in many international competitions in the past. But now, from badminton, boxing, weightlifting to baseball, world-class players are constantly emerging and even become favorites to win the championship. When Taiwan often stands at the center of the world stage, the question "Where do these players come from?" becomes increasingly unavoidable.
In the Nagoya Asian Games baseball bronze medal match, Taiwan's ace pitcher Lin Yu-min surrendered 8 innings of 10K scoreless pitches to dominate China and lead the team to win the bronze medal. (File photo)
Third, Japanese society has also changed. The Japanese people's understanding and concern for Taiwan are increasing day by day. For example, Senator Haruo Kitamura just visited Taiwan not long ago and had in-depth exchanges with all walks of life in Taiwan. Today, more and more Japanese politicians, media and ordinary people not only "like Taiwan", but they are also willing to take the initiative to speak out when they are being treated unreasonably in Taiwan.
The existing rules of international sports will not change overnight, and similar frictions may still occur in the future. However, Taiwanese people have become more and more brave to say that they are "Taiwan", and more and more people in Japan are willing to speak for Taiwan.
When these two forces converge, they may affect the way Taiwan is seen, understood, and treated in the international community.
Since the opening of the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, the Taiwanese team has been subject to political suppression such as refusing to allow Sports Minister Li Yang to enter the Asian Olympic Games, and the organizers prohibited people from entering the venue with red flags all over the ground. (File photo)
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(The author is a Japanese journalist and writer in Taiwan)
This article is reprinted with permission from Akio Yaita’s Facebook page
