German mayor apologizes after city suggests Taiwan's flag be removed

Taipei, July 24 (CNA) The mayor of Essen, Thomas Kufen, issued a formal apology to Taiwan Thursday after a city official suggested that a property owner remove the national flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from a building serving as Team Taiwan's relay station during the Universiade, according to Taiwan's representative to Germany.

CNA obtained a copy of the email sent by the mayor's office in Essen to the property owner on July 22 advising that the flag be taken down.

The email incorrectly described Taiwan as a part of China and cited International University Sports Federation (FISU) regulations banning the use of flags from Russia and Belarus.

Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉), Taiwan's representative to Germany, told CNA on Thursday that he asked Mayor Kufen for an apology in an email sent on the evening of July 22.

In the email, Shieh wrote that the Essen city government had no right to interfere with a flag displayed by a private property owner outside a competition venue, he said.

Shieh told CNA he also objected to the phrase "the Taiwan region of China" and attached the Federal Republic of Germany's official list of country names, which uses the term "Taiwan."

He said his email emphasized that Taiwan is a democratic country formally invited to participate in the Universiade, and that comparing it to Russia and Belarus was inappropriate.

Shieh said Mayor Kufen replied at 9 a.m. the next morning and stated that the letter had been sent without his authorization.

He said Kufen apologized over the wording of the email and on behalf of the staff member who wrote it.

According to Shieh, Kufen also pledged that municipal staff would follow the naming conventions established by the German Foreign Ministry in the future.

Shieh said the mayor's prompt and sincere reply brought the matter to a close, adding that the apology email would serve as a point of reference if China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, again tries to pressure Taiwan during the games.

This year's Rhine-Ruhr Universiade runs from July 16-27 and features 196 athletes from Taiwan competing in 15 events, including badminton, swimming and basketball.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) flag, which was not taken down, was displayed near a station, jointly operated by Taiwan's National Sports Training Center (NSTC) and Taiwan Institute of Sports Science (TISS), providing Taiwanese athletes with services including food and physical therapy.