China in Taiwanese cities’ sporting mega-event bids: fatal obstructer, neutral bystander and enthusiastic supporter

Abstract

From 1988 to 2016, Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, and Kaohsiung, its largest commercial port, completed thirteen sporting mega-event bids and their successes and failures were overwhelmingly related to China. Through an in-depth review of all those bidding projects, this article intends to understand in what situations China would install obstructions at all costs and under what circumstances it would be neutral or even supportive. The findings confirm that the political stances of both Taiwanese central and local authorities were crucial to determine Beijing’s attitudes. They also explain the reason why Taiwan’s quest for sporting mega-events during the current Tsai Ing-wen era is expected to be a journey with tragic endings.