A member of pop group S.H.E said yesterday its latest song praising Mandarin Chinese as a language "to which the world listens" has been twisted to imply an allegiance for China.
The song, titled Mandarin (中國話), has been criticized by many Taiwanese on Web sites as an attempt to cater to the interests of China.
"We welcome the heated debate generated by the song but also regret that it has somehow been used as a political tool," said Ella, a singer in the pop group.
The comment came after HIM International Music, the group's record label, barred reporters from the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) from covering a S.H.E radio appearance on Friday because of its reports on the song.
"People of all colors of skin are starting to learn Mandarin Chinese," S.H.E members Selina, Hebe and Ella sing in the song. "After years of struggling with the English pronunciation and grammar, now it's their turn to roll up their tongues to learn Mandarin."
"The world is seriously listening," they sing.
A fan identified as "myidhiho" wrote on Kimo.com: "The record label apparently wanted to make money ... from the newly rich Chinese."
Another Web user said the songwriter had bragged about Mandarin's influence.
"If it was really so great, why would China ask its citizens to study English ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics? It's such disrespect for Mandarin," a user called "Freeman" wrote on Kimo.com.
Taiwanese pop stars are often caught in political squabbles with China.
Chang Hui-mei (張惠妹) was banned from performing in China after Beijing accused her of being sympathetic to President Chen Shui-bian (
PRAISE: Japanese visitor Takashi Kubota said the Taiwanese temple architecture images showcased in the AI Art Gallery were the most impressive displays he saw Taiwan does not have an official pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, because of its diplomatic predicament, but the government-backed Tech World pavilion is drawing interest with its unique recreations of works by Taiwanese artists. The pavilion features an artificial intelligence (AI)-based art gallery showcasing works of famous Taiwanese artists from the Japanese colonial period using innovative technologies. Among its main simulated displays are Eastern gouache paintings by Chen Chin (陳進), Lin Yu-shan (林玉山) and Kuo Hsueh-hu (郭雪湖), who were the three young Taiwanese painters selected for the East Asian Painting exhibition in 1927. Gouache is a water-based
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
A magnitude 4.1 earthquake struck eastern Taiwan's Hualien County at 2:23pm today, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). The epicenter of the temblor was 5.4 kilometers northeast of Hualien County Hall, at a depth of 34.9 km, according to the CWA. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effect of a temblor, was the highest in Hualien County, where it measured 2 on Taiwan's 7-tier intensity scale. The quake also measured an intensity of 1 in Yilan county, Taichung, Nantou County, Changhua County and Yunlin County, the CWA said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
OFF-TARGET: More than 30,000 participants were expected to take part in the Games next month, but only 6,550 foreign and 19,400 Taiwanese athletes have registered Taipei city councilors yesterday blasted the organizers of next month’s World Masters Games over sudden timetable and venue changes, which they said have caused thousands of participants to back out of the international sporting event, among other organizational issues. They also cited visa delays and political interference by China as reasons many foreign athletes are requesting refunds for the event, to be held from May 17 to 30. Jointly organized by the Taipei and New Taipei City governments, the games have been rocked by numerous controversies since preparations began in 2020. Taipei City Councilor Lin Yen-feng (林延鳳) said yesterday that new measures by
RSS