Taiwan Sports Minister withdraws from Asian Para Games events

Taiwanese Sports Minister Lin Chih-yang has withdrawn from all official activities at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games to protest a sudden downgrade of his credentials. The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) reportedly changed his identification from ‘Sports Minister’ to ‘NPC Guest’ shortly before the opening ceremony without providing a clear explanation.

The Ministry of Sports issued a four-point statement expressing strong dissatisfaction and regret over the unilateral change. While the Ministry stated it respects the administrative authority of international sporting bodies, it emphasized that credentials should appropriately reflect an attendee's official professional status.

The Ministry has filed a formal protest through the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee and is pursuing coordination via diplomatic channels. Despite withdrawing from official ceremonies, Lin has continued to visit competition venues to support athletes and monitor logistical preparations.