Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has publicly voiced support for the Taiwanese fans who were stopped from holding up a "Taiwan" towel at the Asian Games in Nagoya — a positive signal for the issue of Taiwan's international space, and unwelcome news for Beijing's pressure campaign.

• When Taiwan's baseball team faced China in the Asian Games four-team super round, some fans held up towels printed with the word "Taiwan" in support, and were stopped by on-site staff.
• Chiang Wan-an said "Taiwan" is our home and the name by which the world knows us; it is not a political taboo and should not be viewed through a tinted lens.
• He stressed that shouting "Team Taiwan" is the purest form of national sentiment, and that politics should not be placed above sport.
• Chiang Wan-an reiterated his opposition to any action that suppresses Taiwan's international space or restricts its international participation.

Outlook: The episode could once again bring restrictions on Taiwan's name and flag at international sporting events to the fore, sparking further political controversy.