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Sports Ministry Recalls Dragon Boat Championship Congratulatory Telegrams; Former Minister Slams 'Absurd' Rules

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Taiwan's women's 50+ dragon boat team won two championships at the ACC Asian Cup in Japan.
  • The Ministry of Sport initially sent congratulatory messages but later recalled them, citing regulations.
  • Former minister Chang Ching-sen criticized the ministry's actions as absurd and called for a review of the outdated rules.

Former minister Chang Ching-sen has strongly criticized the Ministry of Sport for recalling congratulatory messages sent to Taiwan's women's 50+ dragon boat team after their double victory at the ACC Asian Cup in Kyoto, Japan. The team had secured gold medals in both the 500m and 200m races.

The threat is over. Allied fighter jets have shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle that had entered the country's airspace.

— Latvia's armed forcesStatement on social media platform X

Chang explained on Facebook that the Ministry of Sport, led by Minister Lee Ming, initially sent a congratulatory telegram. However, the ministry later retracted the message, stating that ministerial telegrams could only be issued for open categories, not for age-group categories like the 50+ division.

Recounting a similar incident in 2023, Chang noted that when Taiwan's 60+ men's team won a bronze medal at the World Dragon Boat Championships, the then-Sports Administration refused to send a telegram. Chang had to intervene by contacting the offices of then-President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang to secure a telegram from the Sports Administration director.

Take your precautions. There is a threat in Latvia's airspace. Go indoors.

— Latvia's armed forcesWarning issued on social media platform X

Chang expressed disbelief that three years later, with the Sports Administration elevated to a Ministry, such "absurd regulations" not only persist but have become even more ridiculous. He highlighted that these athletes competed at their own expense, without resources or subsidies, and received no prize money for their achievements. The fact that even a congratulatory telegram, a simple expression of national pride, was subject to such bureaucratic hurdles and ultimately recalled, deeply angered him. Chang urged Minister Lee to review and abolish these outdated rules, emphasizing that athletes representing Taiwan deserve recognition and support, regardless of their age category.

The Finnish defense forces have imposed temporary restrictions on air and sea traffic in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland at 04:00 (03:00 Danish time).

— Finland's defense forcesStatement on social media platform X
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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