A comment made by a student from the Chinese student delegation visiting Taiwan sparks debate within the country. While many are unhappy about a delegation member calling Taiwan "China Taipei," some say it is with no ill intent.
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00:00Students from National Taiwan University in Taipei welcome a visiting Chinese student
00:04delegation, not with greetings, but with protests.
00:08We are not China Taipei!
00:10We are not China Taipei!
00:12It comes after one of the visiting Chinese students referred to Taiwan's national baseball
00:16team as China Taipei after its recent win at the Premier 12 Championship.
00:21Congratulations to the Chinese Taipei team for winning the world championship.
00:25We hope that the mainland and Taiwanese compatriots can be like the brothers of China.
00:30Taiwan competes under the name Chinese Taipei due to pressure from China, but calling the
00:35team China Taipei has raised eyebrows here in Taiwan.
00:38It's a difference of a single Chinese character, but one that could be seen to emphasize China's
00:43sovereignty claim.
00:45The foundation, run by former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, which organized the exchange,
00:50says Taiwan's democratic values allow for freedom of speech, and that the student had
00:54no ill intent.
00:55The foundation's president also said the exchange is meant to foster communication
00:59between the two sides, but some in Taiwan are hindering progress.
01:12But the student's comment has sparked broader fears that the exchange is part of China's
01:17united front tactics.
01:21It also comes after criticism from some Taiwanese legislators that many of the students on the
01:29trip are affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, and could be using the exchange to
01:33spread Beijing's propaganda.
01:35While many in Taiwan and China seek open dialogue, the student's comment, and the backlash from
01:40it, serves as a reminder of the sensitivities around Taiwan's identity.
01:45Yixin Pan and Chelsea Wu for Taiwan Plus.
01:50For more UN videos visit www.un.org