Related: Olympic flame to burn bright for China

Jiang Xiaoyu, executive vice-president and spokesman of the Organizing Committee for the Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG) last night called a press conference to express his surprise at Taiwan's call to change the route of the Olympic torch relay.

His statement read as follows:

Editorial on China Daily: Against Olympic spirit Taiwan has made a decision that has shocked the Chinese people and the world. Refusing to allow the 2008 Olympic torch to pass through the island on its 137,000-kilometer, 130-day route would leave an ugly stain on Olympic history. The statement from the Taipei Olympic Committee on Thursday night was a political provocation aimed at the mainland and the international Olympic Movement. Tsai Chen-wei, chairman of the Taipei Olympic Committee, said: "This route is a domestic route that constitutes an attempt to downgrade our sovereignty. It is something that the government and people cannot accept." This is an interesting statement worthy of some examination. Taiwan is a province of China, not a sovereign state. Telling the world that it will keep the 2008 Olympic torch off the island, Taiwan has gone back on its word. In February, the Taipei Olympic Committee reached a consensus with the Beijing Olympics organizing committee on several issues, including where the torch will arrive on the island and where it will leave. In addition, Tsai Chen-wei vowed that Taiwan will respect the Olympic spirit, uphold the Olympic Charter, ensure the smooth launch of activities on the island and take care of issues regarding songs and a logo. All of a sudden, Taiwan rejected the route of the relay, insisting that the torch should arrive on the island during the international part of the relay rather than the domestic part. The torch relay route that was made public in Beijing on Thursday night was arranged in conformity with the Olympic Charter. Turning down the torch, Taiwan is trying to bring politics into sport. The Olympic Games should not be used as a political tool in order to garner publicity for a particular cause. The Olympics is said to have been founded in ancient Greece by the mythical hero Hercules. So important were these games that even conflicts between the always-warring Greek cities were halted. During the truce, both athletes and spectators traveled freely through hostile lands. That was part of the efforts to depoliticize the games. Let's uphold the spirit of the Olympic Charter and keep politics out of the Olympics.

Last night, the BOCOG announced the planned route of the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay, which had been approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the arrangement of the route strictly follows the Olympic Charter and the relevant rules and regulations of the IOC.

The BOCOG has learned from media reports that Taiwan authorities and the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee said that they could not accept the planned route of the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch relay and we are surprised.

The relay of the 2008 Olympic torch in Taipei has been keenly anticipated by our compatriots in Taiwan. They have expressed their wishes to the BOCOG in different ways. During our preparations for the Games, we deeply feel our Taiwan compatriots are looking forward to the torch relay in Taipei as they support Olympic venue construction and participate in Olympic cultural activities.

In November 2006, the BOCOG sent out invitations to Olympic committees, under whose jurisdiction the planned route will pass, including the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee.

On December 28, 2006, Mr Tsai Chen-wei, chairman of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, replied in a letter that they accepted the invitation. The letter said: "On behalf of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, I would like to confirm that the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee is willing to participate in the Beijing Olympic Games torch relay and looking forward to close cooperation with the BOCOG in the future to fulfill the sacred task of passing the Olympic flame in accordance with the Olympic spirit and Olympic principles."

In February this year, a four-member delegation met with the BOCOG in Beijing and reached four points of consensus. The four points are as follows:

1. Both parties are committed to abiding by the regulations, resolutions and practice of the IOC and together preserving the purity and sanctity of the Olympic torch relay and Olympic flame.

2.The Beijing Olympic Games torch relay is an important part of the Beijing Olympic Games. Just like the Games, the relay must follow the Olympic Charter.

3. The Beijing Olympic Games torch relay passing Taipei is a sport and cultural activity carried out within the jurisdiction of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee. The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee will ensure that the torch relay is conducted smoothly under its jurisdiction.

4. When the torch relay is conducted under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, the use of relevant flags, emblems and songs should strictly follows the relevant regulations of the IOC.

At the same time, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee is obliged to coordinate all concerned parties to ensure any flags, emblems and songs which are inconsistent with IOC regulations won't be used during the torch relay.

On March 27, 2007, Mr Tsai sent a letter to the BOCOG to confirm the following arrangements: the Taipei leg of the Beijing Games torch relay will take place on April 30, 2008; the Olympic flame will fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Taipei and leave for Hong Kong on May 1 after the relay ends in Taipei.

In a signed confirmation letter addressed to the BOCOG, Mr Tsai said: "On behalf of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, I would like to confirm the reaching of consensus between the BOCOG and us in our meeting, as well as to confirm the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay route concerning the Taipei leg (as shown on Page 3 in the 2008 Olympic Games torch relay documents). I believe that with further planning and consultation between the two parties, the torch relay will be conducted successfully in Taipei and it will leave a perfect record."

On April 12, the BOCOG sent an invitation to Mr Tsai to attend the launch ceremony of the route for the 2008 Olympic torch relay. On April 14, BOCOG Executive Vice-President Liu Jingmin received a letter from Tsai in which he says, "We have received your invitation letter on April 12, the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee is honored and delighted that Taipei is included on the 2008 Olympic torch relay route and that Taiwan compatriots will have opportunities to share the enthusiasm and joy of Olympic flame. It is the outcome of the joint efforts by both sides and is very much anticipated and cherished. I myself again extend sincere respect and gratitude to you, my brother, and to your colleagues in the organizing committee for your hard work and contributions. However, I would not be available for the event because it clashes with my schedule. I apologize for my absence and hope that I could visit Beijing at another date to meet with you and celebrate together such an inspiring and historical moment. Hereby I wish the launch a complete success."

Hereafter, the IOC approved the planned route for the Beijing Olympic torch relay.

Then Mr Tsai wrote a letter to the BOCOG on April 20, saying, "The current evolution of many issues are out of our sports community's control. Taiwan's status as an independent sovereign state would be degraded if the Olympic flame travels to Hong Kong via Taipei, so my authorities request that the relay enter into Taipei and exit Taipei through third-party countries." This letter unilaterally breached the agreement reached by both sides.

In the hope of satisfying Taiwan compatriots' wishes of participating in the Olympic torch relay, BOCOG wrote a letter to Mr Tsai, which says, "The launch of the torch relay route is imminent. The request by your authorities goes against the consensus reached by both sides as well as the route on which you have made a written confirmation, which we cannot understand."

Passing the Olympic flame in Taipei helps spread the Olympic spirit, and it is a great event beneficial to Taiwan compatriots and will create everlasting good. We still hope that the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee will focus on the interests of our Taiwan compatriots, resist political interference and make good the consensus the two parties have reached.

BOCOG believes that the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and its authorities have violated the Olympic Charter and the IOC's principle of separating sports from politics by rejecting the torch relay route. The Olympic flame is the symbol of Olympic spirit, and the Olympic torch relay is a grand celebration of mankind that represents peace and friendship.

Passing the Olympic flame in Taipei helps spread the Olympic spirit, and it is a great event beneficial to Taiwan compatriots and will create everlasting good. We still hope that the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee and its authorities will focus on the interests of our Taiwan compatriots and the Olympic Movement, and make good the consensus the two parties have reached and the route that has been confirmed. Therefore, the good wishes of our Taiwan compatriots to participate in the Olympic torch relay will come true.