Taiwan will allow the Beijing Olympics torch to pass through the country if the relay route does not imply Taiwan is part of China, a sports official said yesterday.
If the torch comes from China to Taiwan and returns to Hong Kong or Macau, we won't accept it because that implies Taiwan is part of China," said Chu Shou-chien (朱壽騫), spokesman for the National Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. "If the torch comes to Taiwan from China and then goes to South Korea, or Japan or the Philippines, it is fine because that means Taiwan is just one stop on the international route of the Olympic torch relay," he said.
"We believe Beijing wants to hold a successful Olympic Games in 2008, so we urge China not to manipulate the torch relay," he said, adding that Taipei would inform the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of its stance.
