Another flag flap

Chinese protest Salt Lake condo flying Taiwan flag

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Residents of a downtown condominium complex meant to welcome the world for the Olympics when they flew the flags of more than 90 nations from their balconies.

But they upset representatives of the People's Republic of China when they included the flag of Taiwan at two places.

On Wednesday and Thursday, representatives from China's Washington embassy visited the Canyon Road condominiums, about one-half mile east of the Medals Plaza, and asked that the flags come down.

"It took a couple of times for them to understand that this is private residence, not a government building, and that the government did not give us these flags," resident Annetta Mower said. "We thought the idea of the flags was exciting. We had no idea that it would raise any kind of controversy."

The Chinese government does not recognize Taiwan as a separate nation. Nor does the International Olympic Committee, which refers to Taiwan as Chinese Taipei. During Friday's opening ceremonies, Taiwanese athletes marched behind the Olympic flag, not the flag of Taiwan.

That is the reason embassy representatives are interested in where the flag of Taiwan is displayed in Salt Lake City, said Dizhong Huang, embassy first secretary.

Under the IOC charter, the flag cannot be flown at any official Olympic venue or gathering.

"We want to go with the Olympic spirit, and the Olympics do not want politics," Huang said. "We do not want to make trouble, but we want to make sure everything is by the rules."

Huang said that the Chinese government respects American laws and the right of a private citizen to hang any flags they choose, and embassy officials will not persist in the request for removal of the flag.

"We know that Salt Lake has a very good friendship with Taiwan," he said. "And we know that sometimes [Americans] do not understand our politics."

Some Chinese nationals living in the area say it might be best if the Taiwan flags came down.

"I recognize that they care about being a good host. I appreciate that they took the time to fly the flag to show good hospitality, but why bother if it raises other issues," said Jimmy Lu, owner of the Shanghai Garden restaurant in Midvale and past chairman of the Utah Organization of Chinese Americans.

Lu compared hoisting the Taiwanese flag to flying the Confederate flag.

"It is part of our history, and we can't ignore history, but we just like to see one China," he said.

Mower said that she and other residents of the building have no intention of removing their flags. More than 200 flags decorate the building. Residents paid dlrs 11 each for their flags and selected which ones they wanted to display.

"We have flags flying from some nations that aren't even in the Olympics and from nations we don't particularly support right now," she said. "We do appreciate their perspective, but this is America."

 

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