TAIPEI, Feb 1, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Taiwan announced Tuesday a reversal to its
weekend decision to forgo the opening and closing of the Beijing Winter
Olympics, saying the committee governing the Games was "requiring" attendance
at the ceremonies.

  The about-turn comes as relations between Beijing and Taipei are at their
lowest in decades, with China ramping up military and economic pressure
against the self-ruled democratic island.

  Days earlier, Taiwan's Sports Administration had said it would not be
sending an official delegation to either of the ceremonies, citing concerns
around "pandemic prevention and flight schedules".

  By Tuesday, the island's Olympic committee -- which answers to Taiwan's
sports governing body -- said there was a change of plans due to the Games'
international governing body "requiring" attendance.

  "(We've) received multiple notices by the IOC (International Olympic
Committee) recently requiring all delegations joining the 2022 Beijing Winter
Olympics to cooperate and attend the opening and closing ceremonies," it
said.

  "Based on the Olympic spirit of solidarity as well as long-term good
interactions and mutual understanding between the two sides, the Chinese
Taipei Olympic Committee... has decided to adjust plans to send
representatives" to both ceremonies.

  The local committee's use of the name "Chinese Taipei" is based on a 1981
compromise made with the IOC to allow Taiwan to compete on the international
stage without presenting itself as a sovereign nation.

  Tuesday's volte-face was done "after consulting with Taiwan's Sports
Administration", the statement said.

  Authoritarian China regards democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has
vowed to one day seize it, by force if needed.

  Record numbers of Chinese jets have entered the island's air defence zone
in the past four months.

  Taiwan has seen a surge in these kinds of threats since the 2016 election
of President Tsai Ing-wen, when China cut off official communication with her
government because she regards Taiwan as an already sovereign nation.

  The last time Beijing hosted an Olympics in 2008, relations with Taiwan
were much warmer and a large delegation visited.

  This year, only four athletes will be competing in the Winter Games.

  Unlike several Western nations, Taipei has not joined a US-led diplomatic
boycott of the Games over Beijing's human rights record.