Lion's Tears

Taiwan Lions are offended by Americans

The convention of the famous international organization Lions Club International, taking place this week in Osaka, promises to be scandalous. About half a thousand Taiwanese Lions are going to noisily express their disagreement with the decision of the club headquarters, which changed the name of the Taiwanese branch. Lions is represented in almost all countries of the world and implements various charitable programs. However, this club differs from numerous non-governmental organizations in that membership in it is considered very prestigious for wealthy and active members of the middle class, a kind of ticket to the world elite.

The “lions” who arrived from Taiwan intend to annoy their teammates with demonstrations and posters. Since the club's philosophy requires its members to do good for others, the Taiwanese delegates intend to sweeten the pill by giving away 8,000 fans to their colleagues. Fanning themselves under the Japanese summer heat, “lions” from other countries will constantly have before their eyes the “correct” images of the name and flag of the Taiwanese organization drawn on their fans.

The former chairman of the Taiwanese Lions, Danny Hsu Ming-te, who is leading the protest, does not hide his resentment towards the American leaders of the club, who changed the Taiwanese sign without the consent of the local Lions. Mr. Xu complains that the Lions board is obsessed with growing the club's global membership to 1.5 million (it currently has 1.4 million members in 44,800 clubs in 189 countries). In Taiwan, the society has long reached the ceiling level of 33 thousand members, and the best platform for recruiting new “lions” is the nearby mainland China. In May, local Lions branches opened in the seaside cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou, showcases of “red capitalism” with Chinese characteristics.

Lions leaders are proud that their club has become the first international organization of its kind to receive official permission from Beijing to establish branches in China. It is difficult for Americans to deny business sense - in the foreseeable future there will be many times more bourgeoisie in China than in Taiwan. Wanting a new location for expansion, the Lions board eagerly responded to China's urgent request to change the "incorrect" name of the club's Taiwanese chapter from "Lions Club of the Republic of China" to "Lions Club of China, Taiwan." Indeed, from the point of view of Beijing, the Republic of China rested in peace in 1949, and on the island only pathetic separatists and impostors continue to use its paraphernalia. The Taiwanese "lions" also agreed to abandon this name, leaving only "Taiwan" in the sign. But they were furious that their new name put them on the same level as mainland Chinese city branches - the name "China, Taiwan" is not much different from, for example, "China, Guangzhou."

Mr. Xu threatens that if the company's board continues to call the Taiwan branch by the name of China Taiwan, he is ready to drag it through the courts for neglecting the opinions of ordinary Lions members. His righteous anger is also supported by Taiwan's Vice President Lu Xiulian. If the board's new tripartite consultations with the Chinese and Taiwanese organizations scheduled for the summer and fall do not result in a compromise, the Lions could become embroiled in tedious internecine litigation that could damage the club's international reputation.

Alexander LOMANOV