Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/10/31
By: Huang Chiao-wen and Elizabeth Hsu
Taipei, Oct. 31 (CNA) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has written a letter to its
CNA file photo
national counterpart in Taiwan, seeking information about the country’s referendum procedures, ahead of a plebiscite on whether Taiwan should apply to attend the 2020 Tokyo Olympics under the name “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei,” the national Olympic committee confirmed Wednesday.
Citing a report by the Spanish news agency EFE on the name change referendum, the IOC asked about the voting procedure but did not mention whether the referendum might affect Taiwan’s right to participate in the 2020 Games, Shen Yi-ting (沈依婷), secretary-general of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC), said in response to CNA’s questions following reports in the local media about such a letter.
On Nov. 24, Taiwan will hold 10 referendums, alongside its local government elections, including one that will ask voters whether they agree Taiwan should apply to participate in all international sporting events, including the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, using the name “Taiwan.”
For a referendum to succeed in Taiwan, it must gain a majority in excess of 25 percent of the number of eligible voters. [FULL STORY]