Taiwan bolsters rules to keep athletes from representing China: Agency

Taipei, Sept. 14 (CNA) Taiwan has revised its cross-Taiwan Strait sports exchange guidelines to create a firmer legal basis for stopping Taiwanese nationals from competing for China's national teams in international sporting events, the Ministry of Sports said Monday.

In a statement, the ministry said Taiwanese becoming part of a Chinese national team involves national identity and, as such, violates Article 33 of the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

After recent cases, however, the ministry felt the cross-Taiwan Strait sports exchanges guidelines needed to contain similar language.

"To prevent similar incidents," the ministry said, the intent of the law in Article 33 "has been incorporated into Article 7 of the guidelines, clearly declaring the policy bottom line for cross-strait sports exchanges."

The new provision does not explicitly say Taiwanese nationals cannot become members of a Chinese national sports team.

Instead it says that individuals are prohibited from serving as a member of any group in China that "involves national identity or fundamental loyalty, cross-strait United Front work, or that may endanger national security or interests."

The ministry said penalties for violating the clause would be based on provisions in the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area.

The guidelines were first introduced by the former Sports Affairs Council in 1998 and have since undergone five revisions.

In its statement, the ministry also cautioned schools and sports organizations against what it described as increasingly diverse Chinese "united front" tactics, including invitations offering fully funded trips or free local hospitality.

Invitees should carefully examine organizers' backgrounds, itineraries and promotional materials, and avoid participating in national-level events organized by Chinese authorities that carry potential united front objectives, the ministry said.

The ministry added that it would continue working with the Mainland Affairs Council to inform sporting organizations and schools about the guidelines, relevant laws and the latest cross-strait policies.