Taiwanese cyclist showcases Taiwan's identity on global journey

Hanoi, Sept. 12 (CNA) Jacky Chen (陳峻永), who has cycled a total of around 70,000 kilometers in 89 countries since 2015, shared how his identity as a Taiwanese has shaped his journeys abroad.

In an interview in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sept. 4, Chen told CNA that although he cannot represent Taiwan, his goal for his trip has always been "to introduce Taiwan to the world."

Inspired by Japanese author Yusuke Ishida, who left his career to cycle the globe, Chen also quit his engineering job in 2015 and began his "Go or Die" global journey in Alaska, riding his bike to wherever roads allowed, taking ferries when necessary, and only resorting to flights when it was unavoidable.

His route spanned the Americas, Europe, and Africa before COVID-19 forced him to return from Zambia to Taiwan in 2020. He resumed his travels in 2023 from Zambia to Eswatini, then flew to Turkey and continued across Asia.

"While many Europeans and Americans do long cycling trips, I want to show the world that Taiwanese people can cycle around the world, too," he said.

Flying an ROC flag on his bike and wearing a jersey reading "I'm Jacky. I come from Taiwan," Chen said his identity was "warmly received" in most countries, with locals showing kindness and curiosity.

When his bike was stolen in Mexico, locals rushed to help him and took photos with him, which he described as "one of my most memorable experiences."

However, he also recalled nearly being denied entry to Malawi during the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as his older passport, whose cover read "Republic of China" with "Taiwan" printed only in small letters, led border officials to mistake him for being from China.

When locals asked if Taiwan belongs to China, Chen said he would explain that Taiwan has its own elected president, passport and currency, and stressed that identity is "not about the strength or size of a nation."

Chen also thanked overseas compatriots who were "always eager to help," recalling how a Taiwanese businessman in Zambia hosted him for six months in 2020 after COVID-19 closed the country's borders and airports and left him stranded, until he was able to return to Taiwan when restrictions eased.

Now on the final leg of his journey, Chen said he plans to travel northeast through China towards South Korea, before returning to Taiwan in 2026.