Taiwan tea award in France disrupted by “one China” heckling as audience backs producer at world contest
A Taiwanese tea producer’s moment of international recognition in France was disrupted after individuals believed to be Chinese embassy staff shouted “one China” slogans, prompting Taiwan’s foreign ministry to condemn the incident as an international embarrassment.
- A Taiwanese tea award ceremony in France was disrupted by individuals believed to be Chinese embassy staff shouting “one China” slogans.
- Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned the behaviour, reaffirming Taiwan’s sovereignty and calling the incident an international embarrassment.
- Despite the disruption, Taiwanese producers achieved strong results, winning dozens of awards at the international competition.
TAIWAN: A prestigious French tea competition meant to celebrate craftsmanship and flavour was briefly overshadowed by political disruption after a Taiwanese tea producer received international recognition.
Lishan Juxin Tea Industry Co. was awarded a gourmet medal for its Huagang Snow Source Tea at the 8th “Teas of the World” competition organised by France’s Agency for Valorization of Agricultural Products.
The ceremony, attended by producers and guests from around the world, was proceeding normally until two individuals, later identified as Chinese embassy staff, interrupted the event by shouting political slogans in English.
Heckling Sparks Audience Backlash
According to a video shared on Facebook by Lishan Juxin’s chief executive, Leo Hsieh, the individuals shouted phrases such as “Taiwan is just a province” and “Taiwan is part of China” during the award presentation.
Their remarks immediately drew disapproval from the audience, with attendees responding by telling them to leave or remain quiet.
Hsieh later told Taiwan’s Central News Agency that the audience’s reaction deeply moved him, describing how the diplomats were booed and drowned out by the crowd.
The moment, he said, underscored the respect Taiwan received at the international event.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry Responds
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) swiftly condemned the disruption.
Spokesperson Hsiao Kuangwei stated that if the remarks were indeed made by Chinese officials, they were both inappropriate and incorrect.
Hsiao reaffirmed that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country and is not subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.
He added that this reality is widely recognised by the international community and clearly demonstrated at the event, where Taiwan was identified by name and its national flag was displayed.
He stressed that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government has the right to represent its 23 million people internationally, and that China has no authority to interfere in Taiwan’s participation in global events.
Call for Civility and Respect
Hsiao urged Chinese citizens and officials alike to behave rationally and respect international norms of civility, warning that such actions only damage China’s image abroad.
He added that if the individuals were official representatives, Beijing should recognise that respectful and equal dialogue, rather than confrontation, is the only viable path to improving cross-strait relations.
Taiwan, he said, remains committed to being a constructive force in the international community and hopes to work with like-minded partners to promote peace, cooperation, and mutual respect.
Strong Taiwanese Presence at Competition
Despite the disruption, Taiwan’s performance at the competition was widely praised. According to the Taipei Representative Office in France, 29 Taiwanese tea producers participated, collectively winning 10 gold medals, eight silver medals, 12 bronze medals, and 24 special flavour awards — highlighting Taiwan’s strength and reputation in the global tea industry.
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