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1.媒體來源: ABC News (Australia)


2.完整新聞標題:
Taiwan flag design painted over by council ahead of beef industry event.

3.完整新聞內文:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9739560-3x2-700x467.jpg

A family is outraged after Taiwanese flags were painted over by council on
children's artwork on a bull statue erected along Rockhampton's Riverbank.

Students from various schools in Rockhampton, in central Queensland, were
asked to paint six bull statues as part of a joint initiative by Rockhampton
Regional Council and Beef Australia for this week's biggest cattle industry
event in the country.

One of those bulls was painted with barramundi-shaped flags by students at
North Rockhampton High School.

Taiwan-born siblings, Amber Jun Xie and Iu Ting Xie, painted their country's
flag on the bull's body.

Stepfather Lawrence Downing said his children had done "a great job".

"They were asked to paint their culture," he said.

The bull was picked up by council officers on April 30.

Just days ago, it was erected along Rockhampton's Riverbank for this week's
Beef Australia.

The plaque reads: "This bull celebrates the cultural diversity of the
Rockhampton community".

But the student's two Taiwanese flags — one painted on the front leg and
another on the rear of the other side of the statue — had been painted over.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9739788-3x2-340x227.jpg
Photo: Mr Downing, with mother Amy Chen, says 'it's a slap in the face' to
their children. (ABC News: Paul Robinson)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9739654-3x2-700x467.jpg



Council admits covering up Taiwan flags

The council's department, Advance Rockhampton, has taken the blame for
covering up the bull's Taiwanese flags.

"Advance Rockhampton made a decision to change one bull statue on display in
Quay Street in line with the Australian Government's approach of adhering to
the one-China policy," general manager Tony Cullen said.

The People's Republic of China claims Taiwan as its territory, however Taiwan
operates like a separate country with its own constitution, parliament, and
currency.

The Australian Government does not display Taiwanese flags, however there is
no federal directive to state or local governments about what they should do.

In recent years, China has emerged as increasingly important for Australia's
beef industry and is one of its biggest export destinations.

"We highly value the relationship with all of our international trading
partners and the opportunities they present for our region," Mr Cullen said.

"The school was contacted prior to the changes being made."


Children 'very sad and disappointed'

The two students' mother, Amy Chen, said her children were "very sad and
disappointed" by the council's decision to paint over their flags.

    "It's a free country in Australia, so they [her children] feel a bit
shocked their culture cannot be showed in public," Ms Chen said.

"They can't do that — it's wrong to do that."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/9739698-3x2-700x467.jpg



Mr Downing reiterated his family's anger.

"There was a Brazilian flag and a Japanese flag but their flag — a Taiwanese
flag — was covered up," he said.

    "It's like a slap in the face — what message are they [the council]
sending to them?

"You can't tell me a group of Chinese delegates are going to be upset by two
Taiwanese flags in the shape of a barramundi fish.

"The council should just say, 'no, we can't do this'.

"Don't worry about the Chinese — if they want to spend money, they'll spend
money."


China pressures private companies

This week Foreign Minister Julie Bishop warned China against trying to exert
pressure on private companies.

China had written to Qantas — and dozens of other airlines — asking them to
refer to Taiwan as part of China.

In February, a Sydney waitress claimed she was fired by a Chinese restaurant
for referring to herself as "Taiwanese".

The council said Beef Australia was not involved in the decision to cover up
the children's flags.



4.完整新聞連結 (或短網址):
https://goo.gl/SP7Jos


5.備註:

中國人玻璃心真的無所不在，連小朋友的心都要傷害。

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