Taiwan's government is pushing back after organizers of an international choir competition in Sweden blocked its flag, a fresh sign of how far China's diplomatic pressure reaches into non-political events.

• A Swedish fan was stopped by staff after unfurling Taiwan's flag outside the venue in Helsingborg.
• A reporter covering the event was told press credentials would be pulled if the flag showed up in coverage.
• Taiwan's foreign ministry called the ban unfair and asked its offices in Sweden and Germany to press the organizer, Interkultur.
• Interkultur said it has used the same rules since 2000, treating Taiwan as "Chinese Taipei" the way the Olympics do.
• Taipei's counter-argument is simple: a choir contest is not the Olympics, so Olympic rules should not apply.

Outlook: Taiwan will keep lobbying event organizers for equal treatment, but China's leverage over international bodies makes a quick change unlikely.