Security personnel at the Paris Olympics took a decisive action on Friday by ejecting a spectator who was seen holding up a green banner that read "Go Taiwan" during a badminton match. The incident has sparked anger and outcry from Taiwanese authorities, shedding light once again on the complex rules that govern Taiwan's participation in international sporting events.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), is viewed by Beijing as its own territory. China vehemently opposes any recognition of Taiwan as a separate nation, extending to the realm of sports. Consequently, Taiwan is required to compete under the name "Chinese Taipei" at the Olympics, without the use of its own name, flag, or anthem.

According to Reuters, witnesses observed the fan shouting as they were forcibly removed from the venue. The green banner they carried bore significant symbolism, as green is the color associated with Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party and proponents of Taiwanese independence and autonomy.

In response to the incident, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the actions of the individual, referring to them as "crude and despicable." The ministry stated that the act not only demonstrated a lack of education but also violated the spirit of civility upheld by the Olympic Games, as well as the principles of freedom of speech and the rule of law.

In light of the incident, the ministry has instructed Taiwan's envoy to France to report the matter to law enforcement authorities. They also expressed their intention to seek assistance from French authorities to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future. CNN has reached out to French authorities for their comments on the incident.

During a subsequent news conference, Mark Adams, the spokesman for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), referred to the Olympics' ticketing terms and conditions, which explicitly permit only the flags of participating countries and territories to be displayed. This aligns with the longstanding compromise reached between the IOC and China in 1979, which allowed Taiwan's participation under the name "Chinese Taipei," but without the use of its own name, flag, or anthem.

The history of Taiwan's participation in the Olympics reflects the complexities of its diplomatic situation. Prior to the 1970s, Taiwan competed under the name "ROC." However, following the United Nations' decision to recognize Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China in 1971, Taiwan boycotted the 1976 and 1980 Olympics due to host nations refusing its participation under the ROC name. When Taiwan returned in 1984, it did so as "Chinese Taipei" in accordance with the agreement between the IOC and China.

In 2018, a proposal to change the name of Taiwan's Olympic team to simply "Taiwan" from "Chinese Taipei" was rejected by Taiwanese voters, according to the Associated Press.

The incident at the Paris Olympics serves as a reminder of the ongoing sensitivity surrounding Taiwan's participation in international sports events and reinforces the challenges faced by Taiwanese athletes in asserting their identity on the global stage.