In related news, Lawmaker Chang Hua-kuan of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday called for Lai Hsing-yuan, minister of the MAC to step down if the Central Chinese Television shows "Zhongguo Taipei" in Chinese characters on its screen during the Beijing Olympic Games.

DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen also said yesterday that China's attempts to dwarf Taiwan on the world stage are unacceptable to people in Taiwan, and urged China not to recklessly change the title of Taiwan Olympic team from "Chinese Taipei" to "Taipei, China."

As the host of this year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China should display a broader mind toward Taiwan and the rest of the world instead of using petty means to squeeze Taiwan at the world's most prominent sports event. Tsai said.

Also yesterday, the Cabinet's spokeswoman Vanessa Yea-ping Shih said that the government has set up an supra-ministerial panel to tackle issues concerning Taiwan's participation in the 2008 Olympic Games to kick off Aug.8 in Beijing, aiming to ensure that Taiwan's status won't be downgraded to be an administrative region of China.

The issues under consideration include the name used by China to refer to the Taiwan Olympic team and what position Taiwan's representative is given in the opening procession, Shih said.

She continued that the panel will be composed of officials from the National Security Council, the Mainland Affairs Council, the Sports Affairs Council, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and the Government Information Office.

The panel will continue to communicate with China to demand that the host country abide by related protocols in dealing with Taiwan's participation in the games.

In addition, spokesman Wang Yu-chi of the Presidential Office said yesterday that the government hopes Beijing will show goodwill to Taiwan in handling Olympic issues. 

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