Beyond the Game: Taiwan’s Soft Power Through Sports Diplomacy

Under China’s pressure, Taiwan has struggled to gain international space through a formal diplomatic approach. Therefore, sports diplomacy and soft power have become an alternative avenue for Taiwan to strengthen its global profile. Because of its unique situation caused by China’s ‘One China principle,’ Taiwan has participated in the Olympic Games and other international sports competitions under the name of ‘Chinese Taipei’ since 1981. This issue is not only related to Taiwan’s international space but also linked to Taiwanese identity. The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics offers a global stage for countries to advertise themselves through sports. What is the future of Taiwan’s sports diplomacy and what do international sporting events mean for Taiwanese identity? Join us at ISDP’s Stockholm Taiwan Center for a discussion about Taiwan’s sports diplomacy, international participation, and Taiwanese identity.

Speakers:

Ms. Po-Chun (Sophiyah) Liu 劉柏君 is the Founder and Secretary General of the Taiwan Sport Forward Association and President of the Taiwan Women’s Sports Association. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at Hsuan Chuang University and serves as a counselor for the Taipei City Baseball Team. Renowned for her expertise in baseball, she has umpired and interpreted at numerous international tournaments. Her accolades include the 2022 Taiwan Sports Elite Award – Special Award for Women in Sports & Sports Diplomacy and the 2019 International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United Nations (UN) Women: Women and Sports World Award. In 2018, she was ranked 19th by Forbes among The Most Powerful Women in International Sports. She is also the author of “Safe & Out” and “The Interpreter” series, highlighting her journey from a psychic student to a female baseball umpire.

Dr. Tao-Tien (Ömür) Hsiung 熊道天 is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Turkish Language and Culture at National Chengchi University and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at National Taiwan Normal University. He also serves as the Chairman of the Taiwan Turkish Culture Association. Dr. Tao holds a doctoral degree in Physical Education and Sport Sciences from National Taiwan Normal University. His areas of expertise include international organizations and Turkey, international relations, sports organizational behavior, sports management, the development of the Turkish leisure sports industry, sports governance, and sports management.

Moderator: Yi-Chieh Chen, Junior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Taiwan Center