Taiwan has made a decision that has shocked the Chinese people and the world.

Refusing to allow the 2008 Olympic torch to pass through the island on its 137,000-kilometer, 130-day route would leave an ugly stain on Olympic history.

The statement from the Taipei Olympic Committee on Thursday night was a political provocation aimed at the mainland and the international Olympic Movement.

Tsai Chen-wei, chairman of the Taipei Olympic Committee, said: "This route is a domestic route that constitutes an attempt to downgrade our sovereignty. It is something that the government and people cannot accept."

This is an interesting statement worthy of some examination.

Taiwan is a province of China, not a sovereign state.

Telling the world that it will keep the 2008 Olympic torch off the island, Taiwan has gone back on its word.

In February, the Taipei Olympic Committee reached a consensus with the Beijing Olympics organizing committee on several issues, including where the torch will arrive on the island and where it will leave.

In addition, Tsai Chen-wei vowed that Taiwan will respect the Olympic spirit, uphold the Olympic Charter, ensure the smooth launch of activities on the island and take care of issues regarding songs and a logo.

All of a sudden, Taiwan rejected the route of the relay, insisting that the torch should arrive on the island during the international part of the relay rather than the domestic part.

The torch relay route that was made public in Beijing on Thursday night was arranged in conformity with the Olympic Charter.

Turning down the torch, Taiwan is trying to bring politics into sport. The Olympic Games should not be used as a political tool in order to garner publicity for a particular cause.

The Olympics is said to have been founded in ancient Greece by the mythical hero Hercules. So important were these games that even conflicts between the always-warring Greek cities were halted. During the truce, both athletes and spectators traveled freely through hostile lands. That was part of the efforts to depoliticize the games.

Let's uphold the spirit of the Olympic Charter and keep politics out of the Olympics.

Source: China Daily