Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Weng Hsiao-ling (翁曉玲) yesterday defended her comments lauding the victory of Taiwan’s badminton duo at the Paris Olympics as “the pride of Chinese people.”
Lee Yang (李洋) and Wang Chi-lin (王齊麟) on Sunday won the first gold medal for Taiwan in the men’s doubles at this year’s Olympics.
Lee and Wang’s gold medal win is the “Pride of Chinese people,” Weng wrote on China’s WeChat social media app.
Photo: Taipei Times file
In response to media queries yesterday, she said: “We are Chinese... No matter who wins, Team Taiwan or the team from mainland China, it is still the pride of all Chinese people. I see nothing wrong in my statement.”
Speaking at a news conference in Taipei, Democratic Progressive Party caucus secretary-general Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) asked: “Which team was Weng rooting for?” as she watched Lee and Wang face their Chinese opponents at the finals.
“It is very regretful that Weng receives a salary from the [Taiwanese] government, serves as a Taiwanese lawmakers but she does not stand with Taiwan,” Wu added.
Separately yesterday, KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) and KMT think tank deputy director Ling Tao (凌濤) celebrated the badminton win by distributing fried chicken cutlets and bubble tea at the party’s headquarters in Taipei.
Asked about Weng’s post, Chu said: “Right now our whole society is celebrating... We are all cheering for Lee and Yang, as we are proud of both of them.”
“We were all nervous and excited while watching the match on Sunday, and it ended joyfully and our country is celebrating [the victory] together,” he said.
“It has been a long time since we have experienced such joy. When the Republic of China’s National Flag Anthem was played, we were very moved. It was a feeling that everyone shared as we watched it on TV in support of our beloved Chinese Taipei team,” he said.
Additional reporting with CNA
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