![Dummies replaced fans. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RLJDJWOKPMKNHK3BTYSGQC672Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c91495b0d9b6e3f62fb449fe8dd227519c00d008ea2232e522c81891b7831f1e&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans prior to the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTB7M3HPSX4DCRMNNEXGYLVJ2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0946275e69bb9714432648e3e9c2c0d66e79ffd6333234a0fec92176e78852c&width=400&height=225)
![Taiwan's 2020 baseball season kicks off behind closed doors. Only 30 reporters were allowed to cover the game between the Chinatrust Brothers and Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions which was broadcasted live. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RRMAGZ2SNGTH2PYOZUUOS55ZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4490922326672d14d96493e0e5b7af355fa3992e962b00ac860830f43fcabc7&width=400&height=225)
![Cheerleaders dance during the opening match of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) at the Taichung International Baseball Stadium. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVPWW2HIN56ISFYN43GO5DENM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c28dda4e034d017ae2ef3438c9f70607a6287e3366cd70f17a086835acc68637&width=400&height=225)
![A broadcaster operates a camera during the match between Uni President Lions against Chinatrust Brothers. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3N2HY33CX2JROPKXWN2CB3RRDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6457c3ad108dacb9aaf2ac4b78e9ba290dd605f06e87bbb9b4cec44375eba3e5&width=400&height=225)
![Cheerleaders dance during the opening match of the Chinese Professional Baseball League at the Taichung International Baseball Stadium. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKMRJVHIOHC3EFO4NFS53YISTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=44ac04526adf606b030cd5a5ebbb31cd9952fec65db2632f4e2a35d59465094f&width=400&height=225)
![Press can only interview players from behind the red line. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4UY3BMBQ7QM6CBRKT2JQ7YBFAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6efb35e961203b2b1a25cf2b6817862cccf89a04d4c05fc94b853b6c4e91a2c5&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans prior to the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CTSMW5SZ2O45W74KHNWHBTYCXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6517f842d36819ae8ec17b5e49ccbfad52e09259d2143cf9496fd21e40dd76f4&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans prior to the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GK4Y6XC6IKHSFFPBS66GPZAOXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf4cdf7d48bbbb5c2372fe4462ba67084b9eb9b9fac49fbe6e705008213679cc&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans, and a dog, before the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OJEZG3OSRNVEOLMQQGY3EPIMSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb90c14f5a3dc9d3cacd448380cca8bd78f34d6e1915e78955012334a5157089&width=400&height=225)
![Staff work on one of a dummy replacing fans at the first professional baseball league game of the season at Taoyuan International baseball stadium in Taoyuan city, Taiwan. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYDBSSY3SKKOZUIOOPK5QTAABQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d054d0dba90432d41512cbce01d38ddd66642aec8e3a95b81fdfc812a92c13ce&width=400&height=225)
![Dummies replaced fans. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RLJDJWOKPMKNHK3BTYSGQC672Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c91495b0d9b6e3f62fb449fe8dd227519c00d008ea2232e522c81891b7831f1e&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans prior to the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KTB7M3HPSX4DCRMNNEXGYLVJ2U.jpg?smart=true&auth=f0946275e69bb9714432648e3e9c2c0d66e79ffd6333234a0fec92176e78852c&width=400&height=225)
![Taiwan's 2020 baseball season kicks off behind closed doors. Only 30 reporters were allowed to cover the game between the Chinatrust Brothers and Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions which was broadcasted live. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3RRMAGZ2SNGTH2PYOZUUOS55ZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e4490922326672d14d96493e0e5b7af355fa3992e962b00ac860830f43fcabc7&width=400&height=225)
![Cheerleaders dance during the opening match of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) at the Taichung International Baseball Stadium. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVPWW2HIN56ISFYN43GO5DENM4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c28dda4e034d017ae2ef3438c9f70607a6287e3366cd70f17a086835acc68637&width=400&height=225)
![A broadcaster operates a camera during the match between Uni President Lions against Chinatrust Brothers. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3N2HY33CX2JROPKXWN2CB3RRDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6457c3ad108dacb9aaf2ac4b78e9ba290dd605f06e87bbb9b4cec44375eba3e5&width=400&height=225)
![Cheerleaders dance during the opening match of the Chinese Professional Baseball League at the Taichung International Baseball Stadium. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IKMRJVHIOHC3EFO4NFS53YISTY.jpg?smart=true&auth=44ac04526adf606b030cd5a5ebbb31cd9952fec65db2632f4e2a35d59465094f&width=400&height=225)
![Press can only interview players from behind the red line. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4UY3BMBQ7QM6CBRKT2JQ7YBFAU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6efb35e961203b2b1a25cf2b6817862cccf89a04d4c05fc94b853b6c4e91a2c5&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans prior to the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CTSMW5SZ2O45W74KHNWHBTYCXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=6517f842d36819ae8ec17b5e49ccbfad52e09259d2143cf9496fd21e40dd76f4&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans prior to the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GK4Y6XC6IKHSFFPBS66GPZAOXU.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf4cdf7d48bbbb5c2372fe4462ba67084b9eb9b9fac49fbe6e705008213679cc&width=400&height=225)
![Cardboard cutouts of fans, and a dog, before the CPBL season opening game between Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Getty](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OJEZG3OSRNVEOLMQQGY3EPIMSA.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb90c14f5a3dc9d3cacd448380cca8bd78f34d6e1915e78955012334a5157089&width=400&height=225)
![Staff work on one of a dummy replacing fans at the first professional baseball league game of the season at Taoyuan International baseball stadium in Taoyuan city, Taiwan. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MYDBSSY3SKKOZUIOOPK5QTAABQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d054d0dba90432d41512cbce01d38ddd66642aec8e3a95b81fdfc812a92c13ce&width=400&height=225)
![Dummies replaced fans. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RLJDJWOKPMKNHK3BTYSGQC672Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=c91495b0d9b6e3f62fb449fe8dd227519c00d008ea2232e522c81891b7831f1e&width=400&height=225)
Mannequins banging drums, cut-out crowds (including dogs), but real cheerleaders ... Taiwan baseball season is up and running - in pictures
Empty stadiums but Taiwan goes against the global trend amid the coronavirus
Dominic Hart
April 13, 2020
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic