TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會, MAC) criticized China's political maneuvers as counterproductive, stating late Monday (May 27) that such tactics only deepen Taiwanese society's resentment towards the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
This statement comes in response to the controversy over the CCP's coercion of Taiwanese artists into making political statements, an attempt to create the illusion of a unified "one China" that includes Taiwan.
Artistic Freedom Under Threat
The MAC highlighted the CCP's long-term interference in the artistic and entertainment sectors, noting that the demand for political statements from performers deviates from the core values of artistic freedom.
This interference, according to the MAC, hinders cross-strait interactions. The council's remarks were a direct response to recent incidents where Taiwanese artists, including Jam Hsiao (蕭敬騰) and Ashin (阿信) from the band Mayday (五月天), were seemingly pressured into declaring, "We are all Chinese," a statement orchestrated by the CCP to assert its "one China" stance.
A Call for Awareness and Sovereignty
The MAC urged the CCP to acknowledge the reality of the Republic of China's existence and advised Taiwanese artists considering career opportunities in China to carefully assess the risks involved.
The council emphasized the importance of maintaining national sovereignty and dignity, reflecting on the actions taken by China's Central Television (央視), a branch of the CCP's Central Propaganda Department, which showcased statements from 18 artists as a means to encourage similar declarations from others.
Furthermore, the statement from China Central Television's Weibo account on May 22, claiming Taiwan will never be recognized as a country and promoting unification, was echoed by artists like Ouyang Nana (歐陽娜娜) and Patty Hou (侯佩岑), further illustrating the pressure on Taiwanese artists to conform to the CCP's narrative.
The MAC's call to action serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China, highlighting the complexities of cross-strait relations and the impact on cultural and artistic expression.