Beijing has required that performing artists from Taiwan and Hong Kong sign an agreement to only engage in “politically correct” speech for 10 years, a source said yesterday.
Beijing had previously required Taiwanese artists to refer to Taiwan as part of China and themselves as “Chinese,” but this is the first time they have put a minimum time frame on such expressions, the source said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) on Thursday last week said that rumors about the policy were inaccurate, but then added: “We will not allow a small number of people to make money in the mainland while supporting Taiwanese independence at the same time.”
“We hope that cross-strait exchanges in the television and film industry will not be contaminated by Taiwanese separatists,” she added.
The policy has since been confirmed to be in effect, the source said, adding that the Chinese government has not approached the artists directly, but is having the stations or online platforms that hire them make them sign the agreements.
Those who do not sign the agreements cannot be employed, while employers of those who breach the agreement after signing would be required to terminate employment and pay a fine, the source said.
Government officials have expressed concern that China is becoming more aggressive in pushing its ideological stance on Taiwanese working or studying there, and that risks are increasing for young Taiwanese in China due to Beijing’s suppression of their freedom of expression, the source said.
The Mainland Affairs Council has seen reports on the artists’ agreement, but has not yet seen the content of it, council deputy minister Chen Ming-chi (陳明祺) told a routine news conference last week.
If true, the agreement demonstrates the difference between the creative environments in Taiwan and China, he said.
While Taiwan provides a free environment for artists, China frequently requires them to toe the party line, which is not beneficial to the development of the creative arts, Chen said.
The council implores Beijing to give performers and artists a free environment for expression, he added.
DEFENSE: The first set of three NASAMS that were previously purchased is expected to be delivered by the end of this year and deployed near the capital, sources said Taiwan plans to procure 28 more sets of M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), as well as nine additional sets of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), military sources said yesterday. Taiwan had previously purchased 29 HIMARS launchers from the US and received the first 11 last year. Once the planned purchases are completed and delivered, Taiwan would have 57 sets of HIMARS. The army has also increased the number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) purchased from 64 to 84, the sources added. Each HIMARS launch pod can carry six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, capable of
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Tropical Storm Podul strengthened into a typhoon at 8pm yesterday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said, with a sea warning to be issued late last night or early this morning. As of 8pm, the typhoon was 1,020km east of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost tip, moving west at 23kph. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 119kph and gusts reaching 155kph, the CWA said. Based on the tropical storm’s trajectory, a land warning could be issued any time from midday today, it added. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張竣堯) said Podul is a fast-moving storm that is forecast to bring its heaviest rainfall and strongest
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