Next month's World University Games in Taipei have become the "latest focal point of tensions between China and Taiwan, with many mainland athletes staying home," according to Ellis & Sung of BLOOMBERG. No Chinese teams will take part in the global sporting event that begins on Aug. 18 -- "the largest ever hosted by the diplomatically isolated Taiwan." While Beijing "denied any official boycott," it is the "first time in four decades" that the Games, also known as the Universiade, will not "feature team competitors from the mainland." In a "possible sign of relief for Taiwan, at least 180 athletes from China signed up between Friday and Sunday to participate in individual competitions," as opposed to team sports. The registration deadline closes Wednesday. The "diminished Chinese delegation thrusts the collegiate competition into the middle of a flare up in one of Asia's trickiest political disputes." Chinese President Xi Jinping has been "seeking to isolate Taiwanese counterpart Tsai Ing-wen over her refusal to publicly endorse the idea that Taiwan is part of China." National Chung Hsing University professor Chen Mu-min said, "A Chinese boycott will have a very big impact. It sends a very strong message to the Taiwanese public; cross-strait relations are bad right now" (BLOOMBERG, 7/17).
