The latest issue of the China Times Weekly reported that Warner Music Taiwan allegedly suggested pop singer Chang Hui-mei (
Hoping to get around China's boycott, Chang indirectly expressed regret for singing Taiwan's national anthem during President Chen Shui-bian's (
It is a unique phenomenon that local singers are purposely distancing themselves from the government to expand their exposure in the foreign market. During the days of Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) rule, Taiwan's entertainers usually made every effort to curry favor in order to gain benefits from those in power. Political events were the best channel for them to gain access to political resources. The late singer Teresa Teng (
Teng was a darling of the KMT authorities for her performances for the troops and national celebrations. Her close cooperation with the powerful also won her generous government assistance and earned her the title of "the military's sweetheart." She was also a model "patriotic entertainer."
Teng was a second-generation Mainlander from Hebei Province. When cross-strait relations began to thaw in the 1990s, rumor has it that the Chinese government invited her to sing in China -- an offer she refused due to her personal political beliefs. Depriving her fans in China the chance to see her perform was a conscious decision to ignore the growing China market.
But that was then, and this is now. These days, major and minor musicians and entertainers view the Democratic Progressive Party as a curse which they can't do enough to avoid. Their greatest fear is that any taint of association will deny them the yellow brick road to riches offered by China.
There was an absence of entertainers at the Double Ten National Day celebrations. Both Jay Chou (
Luo should not seek to revive his fading career in China. He is no longer popular in Taiwan, so why should the people of China spend money to watch his shows? Our experience has shown that incidents such as these only strengthen the growth of Taiwanese consciousness. Every time Beijing chuckles with delight over the ridiculous antics of Taiwanese performers, the people here realize that theirs is the laughter of a foreign regime.
This dynamic gives us further assurances of a green camp victory in December's legislative elections. The absurd performances put on by Beijing -- with the help of some Taiwanese performers -- disgust the Taiwanese people.
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
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Can US dialogue and cooperation with the communist dictatorship in Beijing help avert a Taiwan Strait crisis? Or is US President Joe Biden playing into Chinese President Xi Jinping’s (習近平) hands? With America preoccupied with the wars in Europe and the Middle East, Biden is seeking better relations with Xi’s regime. The goal is to responsibly manage US-China competition and prevent unintended conflict, thereby hoping to create greater space for the two countries to work together in areas where their interests align. The existing wars have already stretched US military resources thin, and the last thing Biden wants is yet another war.