US orders, Qatar submits to Taiwan
Qatar acceded to the request of the authorities in Taiwan and removed the reference to China in the papers of Taiwanese fans requesting an identity card that is also used as a visa to enter the Gulf state.
All World Cup ticket holders must obtain an identification card, which is used both as an identification card and as a visa to enter the host country.
Earlier, the Taiwanese government expressed concern when it discovered that the online ID application contained no mention of the island, only “Taiwan, province of China” – words that angered both the Taiwan government and many of its citizens.
The Taiwan Foreign Ministry accused Qatar of politicizing the World Cup after a senior Qatari official said Taiwanese were likely to be listed as Chinese on the Haya card.
Late that same day, however, the electronic system began to define the island as Taiwan, along with its flag, and this was a victory for Taiwan.
The move is a “positive development”, Taiwan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman told reporters.
Taiwan and Qatar do not have diplomatic relations and only recognize the Beijing government.
Observers said that it angered authorities in the US who ordered Qatar to respond to Taiwan’s request.
The United States is engaged in a diplomatic war with China, with President Joe Biden saying that his country will defend Taiwan if it is attacked by Beijing, in an apparent shift from US foreign policy on the issue.
