Will it be inappropriate to display the Taiwan flag in China?

It'll be offensive and unsuccessful. For a Chinese, you'll get the response when you break into a White House meeting and fly a Confederacy flag. For other students attending the event, it shows your unawareness of current international practices.

There're only a dozen small countries in the world that do reconginze Taiwan as a country.

Take heart that NONE of the students at the event will be from a country that recognizes Taiwan as a nation. For a country to establish diplomatic relationship with China, the 1st rule is to break all official contacts with Taiwan and negate Taiwan as a nation.

Regardless of what you may hear in your neighourhood, U.S. Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, you name it... all of these powers negate Taiwan as a nation and have diplomatic relationship with China though Chinese people are sick of, if not angry, with their hipocracy of making their people think the other way.

Also, those student from Taiwan are representing Taiwan as a province. Otherwise, they can't come to mainland China.

Since it's an international event, you should be aware that your actions represents that of your nation. So if you think Taiwan is a nation and raise their flag, it'll only disqualify you for being ignorant about current international practices or it can mean that you can decide for your country that it no longer wants a diplomatic relationship with China, which, makes your visa invalid. So I guess, either you'd get thrown out, which is not very likely to happen as Chinese usually try to be friendly to foreigners, or the flag gets it, which probably will happen. If you have to insist, maybe try the Chinese Taipei flag, which is valid in international events.

It depends on where and for what occasion.

Taiwan flags are shown in museums and such as it is the flag of the first republic of China ca~1928

If you goto Nanjing and to Sun Yat-sen tomb you will see the "Blue sky and white sun" flag that makes up part of the Taiwan flag.

But the odds are if you did have one the police will take it off you as its invalid in China. Also you could be arrested for supporting separatist movements.

It is not only inappropriate. It is unacceptable in mainland China. One will not only run into problems with the police, but also with the ordinary local residents. Recall that mainland Chinese residents and atheletes would tear down the ROC flag in international events, and it is not difficult to foresee what will happen when one displays a ROC flag on mainland Chinese soil.

The purpose of your trip is to promote cultural exchange. The purpose of your trip is not to irritate the mainland state and its people. If you are interested in studying and working in the PRC in the future, you must not display the ROC flag in mainland China.

yes, people will be offended. they can't get over the fact that Taiwan is separate and better

Are you serious man? What a numb-nut question.

You'd better not! The government is very sensitive this year as it's China's 60th anniversary.

Yes, its quite inappropiate to display the Taiwan flag on Chinese soil. If u want u can display the Chinese Taipei flag for safety reason or don't display is the best. But its your call and be safe.