By Michael Bristow in Taiwan

When players from China's football team run onto the pitch in the World Cup they will be guaranteed the backing of millions of dedicated fans watching back home.

But the team's performance will also be closely monitored in Taiwan, whose population is mostly made up of ethnic Chinese.

A song has been released in Taiwan to support China's first-ever appearance in the World Cup

Despite political disagreements between Beijing and Taipei, it seems many Taiwanese are prepared to put those differences to one side when it comes to sport.

China and Taiwan currently do not have diplomatic ties - they are not even talking to each other - because of a dispute over the island's status that stretches back to 1949 when the Communists won a civil war on the mainland.

But Jules Quartly, a sports journalist for the English-language Taipei Times, said people in Taiwan still often get behind China during sporting events.

"When it came to the vote for Beijing to get the Olympics, you wouldn't have thought Taiwan would support China, but actually on the Olympic Committee the Taiwan representative did support China, and a lot of the political leaders did as well," he said.

Travelling fans

"At that time, there were demonstrations or shows of support for China, and I can see the same happening for the World Cup. If China does succeed, as they did with the Olympic bid, then there will be sense of pride in Taiwan."

I think this ethnic pride is still there despite the differences in national identity

Tseng Yen-fen, sociologist

Some fans are going to great lengths to show their support for China, including a few who are even going to watch China's first-round matches in South Korea.

One of those is Wang Hsiang, from Taoyuan. He said: "The Chinese soccer team represents ethnic Chinese people. If you support them, it's because you identify with this aspect of the team."

A song has also been released in Taiwan by singer Gai An-le to support China's first-ever appearance in the World Cup.

In the song, entitled My heart is your good friend (A song for China's World Cup fans), the singer claims the China team's happiness is his "eternal desire".

Sociologist Tseng Yen-fen of National Taiwan University said Taiwanese often supported China's sporting achievements because the islanders are also themselves ethnic Chinese.

Olympic pride

"Some Taiwanese don't identify politically with the People's Republic of China, but in a general sense they will say they are ethnic Chinese," she said, adding Taiwanese people today are mainly descendants of immigrants from the mainland.

I'm not that interested, but of course I'd be proud if China wins some matches

Taiwan resident

"I think that might serve as motivation for Taiwanese people to support China if they do well in the World Cup."

Tseng recalled how even some of her pro-Taiwan independence friends celebrated when athletes from China won gold medals at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

She said: "They jumped up and down, cheered and felt so happy about the achievement, so I think this ethnic pride is still there despite the differences in national identity."

Of course, on an island where baseball and basketball are the most popular sports, football generally takes a back seat and there is not much visible support for China.

And when asked who they will be supporting in the World Cup, many football fans will name more glamorous teams, such as Brazil, Argentina and Italy.

But those claiming to support other teams in the football tournament nevertheless admit they would feel proud if China did well, particularly if the team does better than expected.

One person summed up the mood when he said: "I don't really follow football so I'm not that interested, but of course I'd be proud if China wins some matches".