Taiwan chief to carry can

"If they don't play in an ideal way, I will definitely offer to resign. Fans will be clear as to who is at fault," said Chinese Taipei Baseball Association president Alex Huang.

Baseball is the self-ruled territory's favourite sport and Taiwan is likely to grind to halt when the islanders face hosts China on August 15, their third match in a tournament which represents one of their few medal hopes at the Games.

"Baseball has been linked to a national sport," Huang said. "It's mixed into the habits of everyday life."

Taiwan won silver in baseball at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 but failed to qualify for the next two Games before finishing fifth in Athens four years ago.

The history of complicated political relations between Taipei and Beijing, not to mention the cross-straits sporting bragging rights, means the China game will have a special appeal.

"All ethnic Chinese people in the world will be watching this one," Huang added. "(In Taiwan) working people will stop work to watch."

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists (KMT) fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.

Taiwan should win given that China has very little baseball tradition and only secured an Olympic berth as hosts, although Huang is taking nothing for granted.

"China's players have had ample time to train because they do not have a domestic professional league," he said.

Taiwan came through the final Olympic qualifying tournament in March and will also face Canada, Cuba, Japan, South Korea the Netherlands and the United States in the eight-team event.

The Beijing Games take place from August 8-24.