《TAIPEI TIMES》 Culinary awards overshadowed by flag controversy

Medal-winning Taiwanese competitors pose for a group photograph on the second day of the Global Culinary Alliance Tour Challenge in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Photo: CNA

/ Staff writer, with CNA Two Taiwanese chefs’ associations won dozens of medals at a Malaysian culinary competition this week, but organizers ordered one association to remove the Republic of China （ROC） national flag during an awards ceremony.

The incident occurred on Friday evening, the final day of the fifth Global Culinary Challenge Malaysia （GCCM）.

During an awards ceremony for several challenges won by the Taiwan Junior Chefs’ Association （TJCA）, its members unfurled three flags for a photo.

In addition to the flags of the TJCA and the Taipei City University of Science and Technology, where several participants are enrolled, a member displayed an ROC flag.

Organizers quickly approached the Taiwanese competitor after the flag was displayed and ordered them to remove it.

They gave no detailed explanations other than saying that displaying the flag was against competition regulations.

The awards ceremony continued after the incident, with competitors from other nations permitted to display their countries’ flags.

TJCA chairman Chang Ko-chin （張克勤） said it was unfortunate that the competitors did not have an opportunity to take photographs with the flag on the stage.

From Tuesday to Friday, TJCA members won four trophies, six gold medals, 16 silver medals, 34 bronze medals and six achievement diplomas.

Chang credited the team competitions, saying that the accolades reflected the younger TJCA members’ efforts and put Taiwan’s culinary abilities on full display on an international stage.

Besides the TJCA, the Taiwan Chefs’ Association （TCA） also won 15 trophies, 16 gold medals, 28 silver medals, nine bronze medals and 10 achievement diplomas.

TCA members also won two GCCM Global Cafe Catering Team challenges, as well as the competition’s SPCC & GCCM 2026 Most Outstanding Apprentice recognition.

The TCA, a member of the World Association of Chefs’ Societies, is also listed as one of the organizers of this year’s GCCM.

More than 800 competitors from more than 30 nations participated in the fifth GCCM.

The culinary challenge was held from Tuesday to Thursday at Kuala Lumpur’s Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, and from Thursday to Friday at Seremban City Hall.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES