More than 50 pro-Taiwan football fans armed with ROC flags turned up for the bronze-medal match between China and South Korea yesterday, despite admonitions to leave their country's colors at home.
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) earlier asked soccer fans not to bring the nation's flag to games of the AFC Women's Championship.
But that didn't stop some fans. At yesterday's game to decide the bronze medal, fans waved the nation's flag and held up posters at the match in which China trounced South Korea 8-0.
"Welcome China to our country -- Taiwan," one poster read.
Fans yesterday said they brought the flags to demonstrate the unfair treatment Taiwan receives at international sporting events.
"Mayor Ma said at the grand opening of the series that he hoped the public would not to bring Taiwan's national flags to the stadium," said Wang Chung-lung (王中瀧), who helped organize fans yesterday through his Web site, Against the Media.
"But Chinese Taipei's flags are OK. All of us think it's ridiculous. This is Taiwan and we are holding our own national flags.
"If the Chinese can wave their flags, we can, too!"
Wang yesterday bristled at the notion that an ROC citizen would be inviting trouble by waving the nation's flag.
"What is wrong with that?" Wang said. "And we don't have any law saying that a Taiwanese citizen cannot hold or display Taiwan's national flags in public, do we?"
Wang's Web site is made up of Internet surfers frustrated by the pro-unification slant of Taiwan's media.
Its members post opinions that often dissect news stories that appear in TV, radio or print media.
Lin Chong-pin (林中斌), vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, said in October that international sports activities held in Taiwan would follow the "Olympic mode."
That means Taiwan's team must be referred to as "Chinese Taipei" and Taiwan's Olympic flag instead of the national flag must be raised.
"But the `Olympic mode' is only valid inside the stadium," Lin said.
"Visitors waving national flags at the scene or putting up flags outside the stadium is fine, as long as they are not affecting the games."
A group of 20 members from the Taiwan Association of University Professors was also present in the stands yesterday, waving the nation's flag and holding posters.
"It is just a self recognition of Taiwanese people," said Tsay Ting-kuei (蔡丁貴), secretary-general of the association.
"If you respect yourself first, other people will respect you afterward," Tsay said.
"For Taiwanese people, we should recognize ourselves and be brave enough to introduce ourselves as Taiwanese."
There were no incidents reported at yesterday's match. Police officers and AFC workers helped maintain order throughout the game.
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