By KHT Staff. Photos via FB Neil Hassall/Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT)
KAOHSIUNG — A major LGBTQ+ sports event set to open in Kaohsiung on April 30 has come under scrutiny after city officials said registrations from China surged sharply this year and that screening uncovered missing athletic credentials, AI-generated false information, and some cases involving people with alleged ties to China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The 2026 Asia Pride Games are scheduled to run from April 30 to May 4 in Kaohsiung, a sports-and-culture event that welcomes participants and visitors from across Asia and beyond.
The Central News Agency reports that the 2026 games, however, saw Chinese registrations skyrocket from double digits in previous years to 834, accounting for 46% of the 1,804 total participants. During a city council session on April 27, officials confirmed that background checks revealed applicants with backgrounds connected to the Chinese military and registration dossiers containing AI-generated fraudulent identities.
Councilor Chang Po-yang (張博洋) warned that the sudden influx appears linked to social media campaigns on platforms like Xiaohongshu (小紅書), where users discussed using the games as a “shortcut” to enter Taiwan for up to 15 days. “This risks becoming a national security loophole,” Chang stated.
Hou Tsun-yao (侯尊堯), Director-General of the Kaohsiung City Sports Development Bureau (KHSDB) (高雄市政府運動發展局), testified that many applicants lacked any history of athletic achievement. He noted that the host organization, the Taiwan Gay Sports and Movement Association (TGSMA) (臺灣同志運動發展協會), failed to properly vet participants.
Consequently, the KHSDB has halted the registration process with the National Immigration Agency (移民署) pending further clarification of the applicants’ itineraries and credentials. The KHSDB emphasized that entry for Chinese nationals must follow strict review protocols (專案 involving the Ministry of Sports, the National Immigration Agency, and the Mainland Affairs Council.
In happier news, a post from Taiwan Travel Tips (TTT) noted that the fading rainbow colors at a crosswalk in the Pier 2 Art Center area have been restored to their original vibrancy.
Below: TTT guide to Kaohsiung Pier 2 Arts Center
More things to do in Kaohsiung
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The Pier2 Art Center
