Taiwan Hakka choir threatens competition withdrawal over name change

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Taiwan's Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) on Wednesday condemned what it described as Chinese pressure on the World Symposium on Choral Music (WSCM) after the event's organizers unilaterally renamed the National Taiwan Hakka Children's Choir as the "China Taiwan Hakka Children's Choir."

The council demanded the name be corrected immediately, warning the choir would otherwise pull out of the event, which takes place in Macau from Aug. 23-28.

At a news conference in Taipei, the HAC said it had lodged a formal protest after discovering the WSCM website had altered the choir's country designation from "Taiwan" to "China Taiwan."

The council said the website had still listed the choir under its original name as of March and April this year, before the change was made on June 22.

The HAC said the event receives funding from the Macau government, and that the WSCM could not proceed without Macau's support -- a dependency it said led to the name change being made at Macau's instruction.

HAC Minister Ku Hsiu-fei (古秀妃) told the news conference that the choir, founded in 2019, is run by the government-backed Hakka Public Communication Foundation.

While acknowledging the pressure facing organizers, Ku emphasized that "just as an individual has personal dignity, a nation has national dignity, and neither should be trampled upon or diminished."

The name "National Hakka Children's Choir" represents the institution's identity and autonomy, she said, calling on the WSCM to show respect and to restore the choir's original name.

If the name is not changed back, the choir will refuse to participate in the event, she said.

Ku called the group the world's only Hakka children's choir, saying its young performers showcase the distinctive style, charm and confidence of Hakka language and music.

Despite what she called unfair treatment by China, Ku said Taiwan would keep promoting Hakka culture internationally, to let the world see Taiwan and hear its Hakka heritage.

Held once every three years, the WSCM is regarded as one of the world's premier choral music events.