At the 81st IOC session held in Montevideo in 1979, the COC's representatives answered questions raised by members who were not clear about China's conditions and policies. Why was China's representation as it existed in the IOC said to be abnormal? Why was the IOC's recognition of Taiwan considered to run counter to the 10 Charter? How was it that Hong Kong is entitled to join the IOC while Taiwan was not? How was the jurisdiction of sports organizations in Taiwan to be defined?
The COC's representatives pointed out that, according to the Olympic Charter, only one National Olympic Committee can be recognized for a country. Since Taiwan is only a part of China, they argued, the recognition of a sports organization in Taiwan as a national organization does not conform to the Olympic Charter. Furthermore, the sports organization in Taiwan was into the list of recognized NOCs in 1954 without being discussed or put to vote at any meeting, without undergoing any legal procedure of affiliation.
According to Olympic principles, a NOC has the right to develop sports and make policies within its own framework. China had 30 (now 31) provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government. All the local sports organizations may develop sports within the scope of their jurisdiction. Consequently, the COC agreed that the tasks of developing sport in Taiwan may be assigned to the sports organizations in Taiwan. But they argued that only one NOC could represent the whole country at the Olympic Games and in making contacts with other NOCs.
As for Hong Kong, the COC representatives pointed out that it is an entirely different issue not to be mentioned in the same breath as Taiwan. Taiwan is part of Chinese territory; it is neither a colony nor an independent area. Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, but nowadays has a status caused by an unequal treaty in history -- historical issue that will be solved through proper channels in future. (Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 according to an agreement signed by the Chinese and British governments in 1988.)
The COC representatives reaffirmed the basic principle at the meeting: There is only one China in the world, and that is the People's Republic of China. Taiwan is part of Chinese territory. Based on this principle, the IOC should recognize only one NOC for China, and that is the Chinese Olympic Committee with its headquarters in Beijing and representing the amateur athletes of the whole country.
However, in consideration of the actual situation in Taiwan and in order that the athletes there would have the opportunity to take part in international competitions, the COC agreed that the sports organization in Taiwan might stay in the IOC, on condition that it would not attach "Republic of China" to its name, nor use the appellation of "Taiwan" independently. Nor would it be allowed to use its "national flag" and "national anthem" and anything symbolic of the "Republic of China." The COC's approach was considered realistic and acceptable to many IOC members.
In mid-October 1979, the Federation International de Football Association passed a resolution that China be re-admitted and the football organization in Taiwan use the name of Chinese Taipei.
In the latter part of the same month, at a meeting held in Nagoya, the IOC Executive Board passed a resolution on the problem of China's representation, confirming the COC as the representative of the Olympic Movement in the whole of China using the national flag and national anthem of the People's Republic of China, while the Olympic committee in Taiwan area, as one of China's local organizations, can only use the name of "Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee" with its flag, anthem and emblem different from the original ones pending IOC's approval. The resolution was passed by the IOC members with a mail vote of 62for, 17 against and 2 abstentions. China was finally reinstated in the IOC.
The Nagoya resolution displayed, on the one hand, adherence to the principle that there is only one China in the world and that is the People's Republic of China, and, on the other hand, flexibility in tactics by keeping the sports organization of Taiwan in the IOC as one of China's local organizations, thus putting an end to the 21-year-long abnormal "two Chinas" situation.
(COC)
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