There were a few big stories today, but here's a seemingly minor one:
For some time, the Chinese Olympic Committee has been "generously" offering to allow the 2008 Olympic torch relay to pass through Taiwan.
What's the catch?
Well, Beijing would classify Taiwan as part of China's "domestic relay route", thereby asserting its "right" over the country to the rest of the world.
It's all part of the regular battle over verbal symbolism between the two countries. Outsiders would be mistaken to be dismissive of the matter. The average man on the street told ad nauseum that "Taiwan is a part of China" is apt to sooner or later believe The Big Lie.
Words mean things. They matter.
Fortunately, the Taiwanese Olympic Committee today rejected the entire exercise in self-abasement.
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