Taiwanese rock band Mayday’s Instagram account has been flooded with angry comments after lead singer Ashin appeared to claim a Chinese identity during a concert in Beijing on May 25.Taiwanese artistes have reshared a post from Chinese state TV channel CCTV, which described Taiwan independence as a"dead end", including singers such as Rainie Yang.Taiwanese powerhouse ballad singer Jam Hsiao said on Facebook that he was “proud to be a member of the zhonghua minzu” - the Chinese nation.
Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory and seeks “peaceful reunification” with the island, though it has never ruled out the use of force, if necessary.Ashin was only one of at least 70 Taiwanese celebrities who have made pro-China statements in the past two weeks – a trend which has sparked widespread anger among Taiwanese who have accused them of “selling out” their identity for gains in the lucrative and massive Chinese market.
While Taiwanese entertainers have faced political pressure in China to make such statements for years, this recent wave comes in the wake of the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has repeatedly denounced as a “dangerous separatist” and “troublemaker”. They are threatened with possible tax audits and other actions if they do not conform, Dr Tsai added.
Beijing’s particular distrust of Taiwan’s new president and his party – which is taking on an unprecedented third term – leaves little room for any Taiwanese wanting to do business in China to be fuzzy about their political leanings, experts said.“It’s all part of China’s efforts to divide Taiwanese society and influence public opinion,” said National Taiwan University associate professor Chen Shih-min.