Taipei, June 8 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday urged Chinese authorities not to exploit sports exchanges for "united front" propaganda, following Taiwanese table tennis star Lin Yun-ju's participation in a controversial pregame event in China, Taipei Times reported.

Lin, Taiwan's top-ranked male paddler, was seen wearing a red scarf, a symbol of the Chinese Young Pioneers, during an event in Shandong province. The red scarf is associated with China's Communist Youth League and is traditionally worn by Chinese elementary school students. Photos and videos circulating online showed Lin singing a patriotic song, I Love You, China, alongside children also wearing red scarves.

At a press briefing in Taipei, MAC Deputy ...