Premier Lin Chuan said Thursday that he “reluctantly” accepts international organizations’ designation of Taiwan as “Chinese Taipei”.
Chinese Taipei is the designation Taiwan often uses in international settings to avoid the contentious issue of its political status. Lin was speaking after Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien used the term in a recent speech before the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
Lin expressed his views on the term.
"Chinese Taipei is the name we go by when we participate in international organizations. Even though I’m dissatisfied, I can accept the name with reluctance. But participating in international organizations using this name is a tangible problem," Lin said.
Lin said he hopes that terminology will not keep Taiwan from participating in international organizations and contributing to the world.
Meanwhile, foreign ministry spokesperson Eleanor Wang said that Taiwan has always gone by the names “Taiwan” and “Chinese Taipei” at the same time. Wang said that the foreign ministry hopes to see Taiwan participate in the WHA in a smooth and meaningful way.