CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-Chang, left, and TPBPA Acting President Chen Chieh-Hsien, right, signed the agreement on compensation for players representing Taiwan internationally ©WBSC

The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) and Taiwan Professional Baseball Players Association (TPBPA) have reached a three-year agreement for players to be paid for representing Taiwan's national team in international matches.

Negotiations over a labour agreement have been ongoing for the last four years, and the Responsibilities and Obligations of CPBL Players Participating in International Games is billed as the first deal of its kind in Taiwanese sport.

As reported by CPBL Stats, the agreement affirms that there is no compulsory mandate for players to compete in international tournaments, but those that do are eligible to receive financial compensation and insurance.

Each player will receive $1,000 (£750/€900) for representing the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association in major competitions, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, the World Baseball Classic and the Premier12.

Compensation for practice and warm-up matches will be between $340 (£255/€305) and $500 (£375/€450) under the agreement.

Insurance will be mandatory for players on international duty, with a pay-as-you-go medical insurance scheme covering up to $24,000 (£18,000/€21,600) in treatment, according to CPBL Stats.

The publication added that players unable to work through injuries sustained representing Taiwan can claim their full salary for up to one year, and receive compensation for up to two years if they are on a multi-year contract.

Provisions are also in place for Taiwanese players representing the domestic league in exhibition matches.

Players stand to earn $1,000 per match from representing the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association in major competitions under the agreement ©Getty Images
Players stand to earn $1,000 per match from representing the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association in major competitions under the agreement ©Getty Images

CPBL Commissioner Tsai Chi-Chang welcomed the agreement as "a historical moment".

"Everybody believes that our athletes are on a mission," he said.

"They are supposed to bear responsibilities and endure sacrifices but who is there to look after their interests?

"We thought we had to commit to this."

TPBPA Acting President Chen Chieh-Hsien added: "I also look forward to having a positive interaction with the league in the future as we are ready to start more conversations regarding issues such as transactions, image rights, uniform contracts, and arbitration."

Taiwan competes as Chinese Taipei at the Olympics and World Baseball Softball Confederation events, due to a dispute with China over the island's sovereignty.

The CPBL is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan and features five teams.

Chinese Taipei missed out on qualification as baseball made its return to the Olympics at Tokyo 2020, alongside softball.

Baseball and softball are not on the programme for Paris 2024, but the WBSC is aiming for inclusion at Los Angeles 2028.