In Brief
- The Women's Asian Cup has been accused of trying to cancel an Indigenous Taiwanese dance performance before Taiwan's game against China.
- The performance went ahead after Taiwanese diplomats intervened.
A Taiwanese politician has accused organisers connected to the Women's Asian Cup of cancelling an Indigenous Taiwanese dance performance before Taiwan's match against China due to "sensitivities around the teams" — until Taiwanese diplomats intervened and reinstated it.
Taiwan, which competes under the name of Chinese Taipei, lost 0-2 to China at the Women's Asia Cup football quarter final in Perth on Saturday.
Following the match, Ngalim Tiunn, a politician from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, posted on social media that an Australia-based Taiwanese Indigenous dance group was set to perform ahead of the quarter final.
She alleged that around 11am, the group received an email from Tourism Western Australia claiming the Asia Cup had sent them an email requesting the performance's cancellation "due to some sensitivities around the teams”.
Tiunn claimed Tourism Western Australia also called the group to confirm the cancellation was due to "political considerations".
She said diplomats from Taiwan then intervened and negotiated with the state government agency, before receiving a call from the Asian Cup Local Organising Committee shortly after.
Tiunn claimed the Local Organising Committee told the diplomats they had "received an instruction" to replace pre-match performances from China and Taiwan with a lion dance performance in the fan zone due to the sensitivities around the two teams.
But she said the group was eventually able to perform.
In a statement to SBS News, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office confirmed its diplomats "engaged with local organisers and raised our concerns through multiple channels”.
"The performance was subsequently reinstated,” a spokesperson said.
"Taiwan respects the rules and regulations governing international sporting competitions and appreciates Australia's efforts in hosting the tournament. We believe sporting events should remain spaces that uphold fairness, inclusiveness, and mutual respect for all participating teams and their supporters."
A spokesperson for Tourism Western Australia told SBS News that the organisation was involved in the logistics of booking entertainment for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, "with all entertainment booked at the discretion of the Asian Football Confederation and its Local Organising Committee".
SBS News has reached out to the Local Organising Committee and the Chinese Embassy in Australia for comment.
The ABC reported last week that Taiwan's diplomats have lodged a complaint to the Asian Football Confederation after Taiwan's former national coach Chen Kuei-jen was ejected from watching Taiwan's match against India in Sydney for allegedly leading a "Taiwan” chant.
China will be competing against the Matildas at a semi-final clash at Perth Stadium on Tuesday. Taiwan will be facing North Korea on the Gold Coast on Thursday, for a world cup qualifying match despite both teams having been knocked out of contention for the Women's Asian Cup trophy.
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