Taiwanese-U.S. groups slam NFL for labeling Taiwan part of China

Representatives of 20 Taiwanese organizations in the Los Angeles area came together Thursday to demand the professional National Football League (NFL) correct its labeling of Taiwan as part of China and apologize for its actions.

 

The controversy occurred after the NFL announced in a statement on Dec. 15 that 18 teams have been granted access to 26 International Home Marketing Areas (IHMA) across eight different countries, while showing a color-coded world map that identified Taiwan as the same country as China, with both in red under the market of the Los Angeles Rams.

The 20 Taiwanese-American civic groups, which represent the Taiwanese American community in the Los Angeles area, expressed their disappointment with the NFL and presented a list of demands at a press conference held at the Taiwan Center of Greater Los Angeles.

 

The demands were for the NFL to recognize that Taiwan is not part of China, revise the problematic map, and provide an explanation and apology to the Taiwanese-American community.

 

Furthermore, the NFL has made Taiwanese-Americans “extremely upset” because the league did not give any explanation or apologize after the error or make any attempt to rectify the mistake, the coalition of Taiwanese-American groups said in a joint statement.

 

“To the Taiwanese-American community, the NFL is obviously indifferent about the feelings of Taiwanese in America and rest of the world,” the statement said.

 

There are nearly 1 million Taiwanese in America, with Greater Los Angeles having the largest Taiwanese-American community in the U.S., according to the groups.

 

Simon Lin (林榮松), CEO of the center, called for unity and Taiwanese people to rise up when Taiwan is insulted and its dignity attacked.

 

Peter Chen (陳正義), former President of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), took a large placard to a Rams home game Tuesday to protest against the NFL.

 

“Have some balls!,” Chen shouted at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California as he held a large sign that urged the NFL not to pander to China.

 

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel