Sasha B. Chhabra’s column (“Michelle Yeoh should no longer be welcome,” March 26, page 8) lamented an Instagram post by renowned actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) about her recent visit to “Taipei, China.” It is Chhabra’s opinion that, in response to parroting Beijing’s propaganda about the status of Taiwan, Yeoh should be banned from entering this nation and her films cut off from funding by government-backed agencies, as well as disqualified from competing in the Golden Horse Awards.
She and other celebrities, he wrote, must be made to understand “that there are consequences for their actions if they become political pawns of China.”
I sincerely share Chhabra’s disappointment and annoyance at Yeoh’s tendentious post, as we both feel genuine respect and affection for Taiwan.
However, I also think that lashing out at a well-beloved international star — however justifiably — is not the way to go.
Yeoh’s post came just after she had said, while in Taipei: “I do love this country very much,” but before she begins shooting her next film in China. This shows that she understands perfectly well that words have consequences and that she has weighed them carefully: Keeping her Chinese fans and financiers happy is worth more — a lot more — than not angering or losing her Taiwanese audience.
The “punishment” Chhabra suggests would mean little to her, as she has made up her mind.
That is why actor John Cena bent over backward in an embarrassing video a few years ago to apologize to his Chinese fans for calling Taiwan “a country.” For some people, a lot of people, money always trumps principles and intellectual honesty.
Worse, such a reaction against the Malaysian actress would risk making Taiwan look petty and resentful in front of the international public, which cares little about the subtleties of language with regards to sovereignty claims.
“Michelle Yeoh banned from Taiwan” is a headline that Beijing would love to read and turn viral. There is such a thing as bad publicity, after all, and it is the kind that Taiwan should strive to avoid.
Besides, banning and vetoing people for saying things it dislikes is China’s go-to response in situations like this, which is perfectly coherent with its dim view of human rights and civil liberties. Taiwan must not play that game; it is beneath its democratic convictions and unworthy of its respect for personal freedom.
On the contrary, Taiwan should publicly welcome Yeoh to come back and craft its invitation in ways that reflect, for all those around the globe who might not have been paying attention, what this nation is and China is not. That would make her look bad if she refuses the invitation and Taiwan look good if she accepts.
Invite her to do what, then? From the top of my head, to see a place where people can freely elect their leaders and criticize them without fear of reprisal; where their grievances and social demands can be heard by an independent judiciary; where they can use the Internet and social media as they wish without an army of censors; where no hukou (戶口, household registration permits) is required to relocate; where they can have as many (or as few) children as they want; where they are not constantly monitored by the government and given “social credit” scores; where they can express their opinions and their sexuality with no restrictions; and where they can inform themselves about their country and the world though a free press. The list could go on.
Sadly, I am pretty sure Yeoh is well aware of all this and much more. Not cool, Michelle, not cool.
Marcel Oppliger is a Chilean journalist and writer living in Taipei. He is the former opinion editor of newspapers Diario Financiero, La Tercera and La Segunda in Santiago, and the author of three non-fiction books.
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