Taiwan Protests 'China, Taiwan' Children's Choir Label
Taiwan says an international symposium for choral music has been pressured to change the name of a participating Taiwanese children's choir to include "China Taiwan."
World Symposium on Choral Music
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International Choral Symposium Changes Name of Taiwanese Choir
REPORTER:
An international symposium for choral music has changed the name of a participating Taiwanese children’s choir to include “China Taiwan.”
Taiwan’s Hakka Affairs Council says the symposium had been using the correct name for months, “the National Taiwan Hakka Children’s Choir.” But it was suddenly changed in late June. It says the decision was made due to pressure from the host Macau’s government, and in turn from China.
Song Ting-dong (CHAIR, HAKKA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION FOUNDATION):
Under [Chinese] pressure not only [can we not have] “national” in our name even “Taiwan” can’t appear. This is belittling. It’s completely disrespectful to our children’s choir and disrespectful to our country.
The council is urging the name to be changed back and says it could withdraw from the event if not.
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Taiwan Protests Children’s Choir Name Change at Choral Symposium
REPORTER:
Taiwan says an international symposium for choral music has changed the name of a participating Taiwanese children’s choir to include “China, Taiwan.”
Song Ting-dong (CHAIR, HAKKA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION FOUNDATION):
Under Chinese pressure we [can’t] have ‘national’ in our name and even ‘Taiwan’ can’t appear. This is belittling. It’s very disrespectful to our children’s choir and disrespectful to our country.
Taiwan’s Hakka Affairs Council says the symposium had been using the correct name for months, “the National Taiwan Hakka Children’s Choir.” But it was suddenly changed in late June. It says the decision was made due to pressure from the Macau government, which is hosting the symposium. It’s urging the name to be changed back and says it could withdraw from the event if not.
