TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese Indigenous dance performance at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia was nearly canceled on Saturday due to “political issues” before the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened.

After former Taiwan men's national team head coach Chen Kuei-jen (陳貴人) was ejected for shouting “Go Taiwan” from the sidelines, another controversy emerged outside the Taiwan-China quarterfinal on Saturday, per Liberty Times. A Taiwanese Indigenous dance group invited by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to perform during halftime was suddenly told shortly before going on stage that the performance had been canceled.

Lala Kao (高惠雯), a member of the dance group, said they were preparing to enter the venue when she received a phone call about the cancellation due to “political issues.” She expressed frustration because the group had been invited by the organizers and received a confirmation email from the AFC the day before.

DPP Legislator Ngalim Tiunn (張雅琳) said that Tourism Western Australia initially sent an email apologizing, saying that the AFC had canceled the performance due to “some sensitivities around the teams.” She said MOFA officials protested with Tourism Western Australia and asked an AFC volunteer traveling with the delegation to help find the appropriate contact channels, while representatives from Taiwan’s football association also communicated with the confederation.

The AFC’s liaison organization in Australia later told MOFA officials it had received notice that, due to sensitivities between the two teams, neither side would be invited to perform. Instead, a “neutral” lion dance was planned to represent both teams at the Fan Zone.

However, the confederation ultimately reversed the cancellation, and the group performed at 12:30 p.m. MOFA criticized what it described as repeated political censorship by the organizers.

Taiwan held defending champion China to a 0–0 draw in regulation for the first time in a major match. China ultimately won 2–0 in extra time.