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Taiwan Rejects China's Torch Relay Plans
As with all Olympics, next year's relay will begin in Greece on March 25. After circling Greece, it arrives in Beijing on March 31.
Following that, it will wind across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa and then back to Asia and China before the torch ignites the cauldron at the opening ceremony on Aug. 8, 2008, in Beijing's 91,000-seat National Stadium.
  In this photo released by Lenovo the torch for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay is seen in Beijing, in March 2007. The torch, made from an aluminum-magnesium alloy, was designed by the Lenovo Innovation Design Center, which usually designs PC's for the computer maker. The torch was unveiled for the first time Thursday April 26, 2007, at a ceremony announcing the route for the Olympic torch relay. (AP Photo/Lenovo) (AP) |
In addition to about 100 stops in China, other stages announced Thursday include London; Paris; San Francisco; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; Islamabad, Pakistan; and Pyongyang, the capital of politically isolated and belligerent North Korea.
"The Beijing 2008 torch relay will, as its theme says, be a journey of harmony, bringing friendship and respect to people of different nationalities, races and creeds," IOC president Jacques Rogge said at the ceremony.
Nevertheless, both Beijing and Taiwan hoped to use the torch relay to bolster political agendas: for Beijing, that Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, and for Taiwan that it is independent.
To that end, Taiwan wanted to participate as part of the international route _ with the torch entering and departing the island via nations other than China. China would like the island run to be part of the domestic route.
In an attempt at compromise, Beijing Olympic organizers said the torch would pass from Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City to Taipei, and then to Hong Kong and Macau, both of which are Chinese-controlled.
"I sincerely hope that Taiwan compatriots can enjoy the glories and joy of the torch relay," said Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic organizing committee.
Jiang repeatedly referred to Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau as "overseas Chinese cities," a characterization sure to upset Taiwan. Jiang also said Beijing organizers had received a written pledge from Taiwan to participate.
"We received a signed letter in March from the head of the Taipei Olympic Committee," Jiang said, adding that Taiwan had agreed to the torch entering from Vietman and leaving for Hong Kong.
But Taiwan's Tsai disputed this.
"This route is a domestic route that constitutes an attempt to downgrade our sovereignty," Tsai said.
