TAIPEI — A familiar international designation has become a fresh point of contention in Taiwan’s 2026 Taipei mayoral race, with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Puma Shen and incumbent Chiang Wan-an offering different views on the political significance of the term “Chinese Taipei.”
The dispute emerged after “Chinese Taipei” appeared on a display at Taipei Arena, prompting criticism online and drawing the issue into the campaign for Taiwan’s capital. The controversy intensified after an older video resurfaced showing Chiang’s wife, Shih Fang-hsuan, using the term at an APEC-related event in 2017.
Shen has argued that candidates’ family members should not become targets in an election dispute. Instead, he has directed attention toward the broader question of why Taiwan uses “Chinese Taipei” in some international organizations and events.
Chiang, meanwhile, has defended the term’s use in the APEC context, saying “Chinese Taipei” is Taiwan’s official member name in APEC. He has also argued that the same standard should apply to political figures across party lines, noting that officials from DPP administrations have likewise participated in international meetings under the designation.
Why “Chinese Taipei” Is So Politically Sensitive
The controversy goes beyond the Taipei mayoral campaign because the name reflects Taiwan’s complicated position in international organizations.
Taiwan joined Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 1991 under the name “Chinese Taipei.” The designation remains the formal name used for Taiwan within APEC, regardless of which political party controls Taiwan’s central government.
Taiwan also participates in some international sporting events under the same designation. The arrangement dates back to agreements reached in the early 1980s governing how Taiwan’s Olympic delegation would participate internationally.
The name, however, is not used universally. In the World Trade Organization (WTO), Taiwan’s formal membership name is the “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu,” while “Chinese Taipei” is also used as a shorter reference.
The issue is closely connected to the long-running dispute between Beijing and Taipei over Taiwan’s international representation. Taiwan’s government maintains that Beijing does not have the right to represent Taiwan internationally, while Beijing opposes international arrangements that it believes imply separate statehood for Taiwan. Reuters has previously reported that Taiwan participates in APEC as “Chinese Taipei” and sends a representative rather than its president to the leaders’ meeting because of the political sensitivities surrounding its participation.
Election Issue Moves From International Diplomacy to Taipei Politics
The latest controversy illustrates how Taiwan’s international status can quickly become part of domestic political debate.
For Shen, the central question is the circumstances that require Taiwan to participate under names such as “Chinese Taipei.” For Chiang, the focus is on the established use of the designation in international institutions and whether criticism should be applied consistently to politicians from different parties.
The resurfaced video involving Chiang’s wife has added a personal dimension to the dispute, but Shen has said family members should not be pulled into the contest.
As the Taipei mayoral campaign develops, the “Chinese Taipei” controversy could therefore become a wider debate about Taiwan’s international identity, diplomatic space and the practical compromises surrounding participation in global institutions.
For voters, the dispute raises a broader question that extends well beyond a single arena display: how should Taiwan balance its preferred identity with the names and arrangements under which it currently participates internationally?
WWC ONE MEDIA G.A
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