Image source,Getty Images
According to media reports in mainland China, there are nearly 40 Taiwanese artists who have given blessings to the “11th” National Day of the mainland, including well-known Taiwanese actors Ouyang Nana, Zhang Junning, Wang Dalu and Lai Guanlin (pictured is Ouyang Nana) .
In October, the National Day of “October” (October 1) in Mainland China and the National Day of “Double Ten” (October 10) of the Republic of China came together. Taiwanese artists wished “Happy Birthday to the People’s Republic of China” on Weibo. , There are also artists who do not celebrate “11” and “Double Ten”.
Regarding the different expressions of artists, some political scholars told BBC Chinese that every Taiwanese or company who wants to do business on the mainland needs to think about the issue of “bread and love”, in terms of “economic benefits” and “national identity”, In terms of “love for freedom”, think about your own bottom line.
Different expressions of artists
According to media reports in mainland China, there are nearly 40 Taiwanese artists who wished the mainland’s National Day during the National Day, including well-known Taiwanese actors Ouyang Nana, Zhang Junning, Wang Dalu, and Lai Guanlin. They also appeared on Weibo. The hot search of “#香港澳台艺人說說親會”.
Ouyang Nana reposted China CCTV News’ Weibo at 0:13 on October 1st, writing: “May the motherland prosper and prosper! #The 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.” She was at the “11th” National Day Party in the mainland last year. Go on stage and sing “My Motherland” with several mainland, Hong Kong and Macau artists.
Also reacting on social media was Taiwanese actor Janine Chang. On the evening of October 1st, she also reposted the Weibo of CCTV News: “Splendid mountains and rivers, Shengshi Zhonghua. #祝新中国生日快乐#!”
Not long ago, netizens in mainland China had published Zhang Junning’s master’s thesis many years ago. Because the title of the thesis contained the word “China”, netizens questioned Zhang Junning as “Taiwan independence.”
While a group of Taiwanese artists blessed the National Day of the Mainland, another group of artists uttered their voices to celebrate the National Day of the Republic of China, “Double Ten”.
“I love Taiwan, and I am proud to be a Taiwanese. This sentence can be said on the October 10th National Day of the Republic of China, and it can also be said during the National Day of the 11th National Day of China. Every day, I can say it as much as I want. Blessings Taiwan will always be free and democratic, and march forward bravely with the world.” Taiwanese actor Ke Yulun said on Facebook.
Taiwanese artist Tai Zhiyuan also posted on Facebook to celebrate: “Today is our country’s birthday, especially to wear festive fancy dresses to celebrate. I wish our country a peaceful and peaceful country, longevity, and happy birthday!”
For artists to send their country to celebrate their blessings, Ma Xiaoguang, the spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China, expressed a lot of goodwill to them, “We will continue to support and encourage cross-strait cultural exchanges and cooperation, welcome Taiwanese entertainers to develop in the mainland, and hope that more Taiwanese entertainers will be in the mainland culture. Share opportunities and play an active role in the process of career development.”
But he also said that the green media and people with ulterior motives on the island always take the opportunity to create troubles, obstruct cross-strait exchanges and cooperation, and harm the interests and well-being of the people in Taiwan, which is unpopular.
“Bread and Love”?
Regarding the reactions of the two types of Taiwanese artists, Huang Zhaonian, an assistant professor at the National Development Research Institute of National Chengchi University in Taiwan, analyzed that Taiwanese artists who wish to bless the Chinese National Day may want to express their identity, but the main reason is still worried about losing the Chinese market.
Huang Zhaonian told the BBC Chinese that the trend in China has always been economic nationalism, “It means that we must strive for national construction for our own ethnic group, and we must rely on ourselves as much as possible, and make money by our own people. Therefore, we will distinguish whether or not artists are artists. ‘Own people’.”
He also mentioned that in recent years, the mainland’s film and television industry has developed and grown, and Taiwan’s talents and technology are no longer needed. Therefore, competition for Taiwanese has indeed increased, and the space for development has become smaller and smaller.
Image source,Getty Images
Taiwanese actor Janine Chang.
So, when cross-strait relations are becoming increasingly tense, how should Taiwanese artists deal with themselves?
Huang Zhaonian believes that every Taiwanese or company who wants to do business on the mainland needs to think about the issue of “bread and love”. “Bread” refers to economic benefits, and “love” refers to “national identity” and “love for freedom.” “.
“It is best to take care of both’bread’ and’love’, but now in China, we must face economic nationalism and political insecurity, so this risk must exist.” Huang Zhaonian said, “not being forced It’s best to make a statement, but if you encounter it, you have to think about your bottom line, which ones we don’t want to sacrifice. If you think it’s okay to make a statement, it’s okay. It’s your personal choice.”
Huang Zhaonian pointed out that the phenomenon of economic nationalism does not only appear in the entertainment industry, it involves various fields such as food, clothing, and aviation, and it is not only aimed at Taiwanese.
Image source,EPA
On October 10th, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen spoke at the “Double Ten” celebration in Taipei, responding to Xi Jinping’s speech with “maintaining the status quo is our proposition.”
Taiwan identity
In recent years, Taiwan’s identity has continued to rise. According to a poll published by the Taiwan Political University Election Research Center in July, 63.3% of people think they are Taiwanese, 2.7% think they are Chinese, and 31.4% think they are both Taiwanese and Chinese.
At the same time, the cross-strait situation is heating up. At the beginning of October, a total of nearly 150 Chinese military aircraft entered the Taiwan Air Defense Identification Zone. The high number and frequency aroused the attention of the international community.
Song Wendi, a lecturer at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at the Australian National University, pointed out to the BBC Chinese that maintaining a constructive and ambiguous space can help draw the spiritual distance between the two sides of the strait.
Image source,Getty Images
Song Wendi explained that in recent years, the proportion of Taiwanese who think they are Taiwanese has been slowly rising in Taiwan’s polls. If Taiwanese identity must be equated with forgetting one’s ancestors, I am afraid that most people in Taiwan do not meet the requirements of the mainland.
“If the mainland hopes that cross-strait relations can develop in a more virtuous, positive cycle, and gradually narrow the spiritual distance, then when determining whether it meets the Beijing standards, it needs to allow more space for goodwill, and more patience.” Song Wendi Said, “If the mainland uses more military means to pressure Taiwan, and hope that some Taiwanese whose political opinions are different from those of Beijing will turn around, the effect may be counterproductive.”
He pointed out that the common national identity mainly comes from the common life experience. When the Continental Army aircraft frequently circumvents Taiwan, it highlights an experience that only Taiwanese can feel.
“The experience is that Taiwanese will feel that their security is threatened because of their identity as Taiwanese, which will only increase the proportion of Taiwanese identity.”