**World Coffee Championship: Taiwan Participant Faces Controversy over Label Change**
Recently, the World Coffee Championship (WCC) caused controversy by changing the label of Taiwanese participants from “Taiwan” to “Chinese Taipei.” California State Assembly Member Tri Ta, a Republican, publicly spoke out in support of Taiwan and criticized this decision as a mistake, pointing out alleged political interference by the Chinese Communist Party.
In a video interview with reporters in his California State Assembly office on May 4th, Tri Ta expressed that such situations were not surprising. He stated, “The Chinese Communist Party has long been trying to interfere in various affairs, including activities and events related to Taiwan within the United States.” He believed that the organizers made a “wrong decision, a very wrong decision,” and noted that this change “undermines Taiwan’s sovereignty and dignity on the international stage.”
Using his own experience as an example of Chinese Communist pressure, Tri Ta revealed that in March of this year, after meeting with the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, his office received a phone call from individuals believed to be from the Chinese Consulate questioning why he had posted a picture with a Taiwanese official on social media. In response, he promptly issued a statement condemning the interference.
“The Chinese Communist Party has no right to interfere in our state government, I do not accept any instructions from the CCP,” emphasized Tri Ta.
He believed that the above cases demonstrated the extension of Chinese Communist influence into American society, with various pressures existing in many ways. Tri Ta urged American society to remain vigilant: “We must ensure that all levels of government understand what is happening and prevent such incidents from happening again. The CCP has no right to interfere in California affairs or exert political pressure on any nonprofit organizations.”
“This is unacceptable,” Tri Ta emphasized, as he publicly condemned the actions, stating, “I reiterate that I will not, and never will, accept instructions from the CCP or any foreign powers. I am only accountable to my constituents and the people of California.”
Tri Ta, born to a family of Vietnamese refugees, in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1973, stated that due to his firsthand experience of the communist regime, he has a profound understanding of the value of freedom. “Many Vietnamese came to the United States for freedom, and we will continue to fight for it,” he shared. He criticized the ongoing suppression and persecution by communist regimes in China and Vietnam, emphasizing that his core in politics is to support freedom and democracy.
As a representative of the California constituents, Tri Ta expressed that he will continue to support Taiwan: “From day one until now, this has always been my stance, and I will continue to advocate for Taiwan in the Assembly, encouraging my colleagues to support Taiwan.”
In response, the Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, Ma Bo-yuan, expressed gratitude to Tri Ta for speaking up for Taiwan. He believed that this incident “seems to be a typical case of authoritarian bullying against American civil organizations,” and expressed regret that political censorship was brought into professional competitions by the organizers.
Ma Bo-yuan emphasized that when a non-profit organization headquartered in California submits to the political agenda of foreign sponsors, it not only damages Taiwan but also undermines the openness and integrity values cherished by American society. He stated, “This incident has politicized what was originally a pursuit of professional and artistic exchange, and we believe that the international coffee community has also been affected.”
Ma Bo-yuan further stated, “The talent of Taiwanese players does not need political filters for review. We will continue to cooperate with various sectors in the United States to support Taiwanese artisans in a truthful and dignified manner as they step onto the international stage.”