Taipei Arena billboard controversy sparks political debate

A political controversy has emerged in Taiwan following the appearance of the phrase ‘Welcome to Chinese Taipei’ on a large digital billboard at the Taipei Arena. The advertisement, a fan-funded birthday tribute for IVE member Jang Won-young, was displayed during the South Korean group’s three-day concert residency in September.

Critics on social media expressed dissatisfaction with the use of the term within Taiwan. In response, the Taipei Arena’s management company stated that the content was provided by a client and managed by an advertising agency. The agency has since suspended the advertisement to review and revise the materials.

The incident has also drawn political scrutiny. Critics highlighted past footage of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s wife, Shi Fang-chien, using the term ‘Chinese Taipei’ during an APEC-related event in 2017. Mayor Chiang defended his wife, stating that ‘Chinese Taipei’ is the official designation used for APEC and that the previous event was held under the administration of the Democratic Progressive Party. He characterized the backlash as a malicious attempt to distort facts for political purposes during an election period.