Taiwan's Name Changed in Coffee Competition, Los Angeles Office Expresses Serious Concern
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles expressed serious concern after Taiwan's designation was changed to "Chinese Taipei" in the World Coffee Championship. They criticized the organizers for bringing politics into the competition, stating it harms not only Taiwan but also American values.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 11:57
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LOS ANGELES (CNA) -- The World Coffee Championship recently changed the designation for Taiwanese participants from "Taiwan" to "Chinese Taipei"; Director-General Ma Bo-yuan of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles stated that the organizers brought politics into the competition, harming not only Taiwan but also American society.
California State Assemblyman Tri Ta, in an interview with CNA today, criticized the World Coffee Championship organizer, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCA), for succumbing to interference from the Chinese Communist Party, making a wrong decision that undermines Taiwan's sovereignty and dignity on the international stage.
Ma Bo-yuan, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, later expressed gratitude to Tri Ta for speaking out. Ma Bo-yuan said that a non-profit organization headquartered in California being forced to yield to a foreign sponsor's political agenda harms not only Taiwan but also the openness and integrity most cherished by American society.
Ma Bo-yuan criticized this incident as a "bad example of authoritarian capital bullying American civil society," stating that the World Coffee Championship was forced to bring political censorship into an artistic and professional competition. The office expressed serious concern, saying, "The international coffee community and we are all victims, and it is an erosion of American free society and professional independence."
Ma Bo-yuan said: "The talent of Taiwanese athletes does not need political filters for censorship. We will continue to work with friends from all walks of life in the United States to support Taiwanese professionals in going global in the most authentic and dignified way." (Edited by Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150505
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California State Assemblyman Tri Ta, in an interview with CNA today, criticized the World Coffee Championship organizer, the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCA), for succumbing to interference from the Chinese Communist Party, making a wrong decision that undermines Taiwan's sovereignty and dignity on the international stage.
Ma Bo-yuan, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, later expressed gratitude to Tri Ta for speaking out. Ma Bo-yuan said that a non-profit organization headquartered in California being forced to yield to a foreign sponsor's political agenda harms not only Taiwan but also the openness and integrity most cherished by American society.
Ma Bo-yuan criticized this incident as a "bad example of authoritarian capital bullying American civil society," stating that the World Coffee Championship was forced to bring political censorship into an artistic and professional competition. The office expressed serious concern, saying, "The international coffee community and we are all victims, and it is an erosion of American free society and professional independence."
Ma Bo-yuan said: "The talent of Taiwanese athletes does not need political filters for censorship. We will continue to work with friends from all walks of life in the United States to support Taiwanese professionals in going global in the most authentic and dignified way." (Edited by Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.