Taiwan opposes Chinese attempt to change name for Olympics

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Several Taiwanese lawmakers have warned that if China insists on changing the name under which the island competes in next month's Olympics, it might boycott the games. Taiwan plans to send a 140-member delegation to the games and former Vice President Lien Chan is scheduled to attend the opening ceremonies. John Chiang and fellow members of the ruling Nationalist Party say China's use of “Zhongguo Taipei" — a name in the Chinese language that strongly suggests that Taiwan is part of China — was unacceptable. Chiang and the vast majority of Taiwanese favor “Zhonghua Taipei," a name the two sides agreed on in 1989 to designate Taiwan during its participation in the Olympics and other international sports competitions. – AP