TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Ashin (阿信), lead singer of Taiwanese rock band Mayday used the pronoun “we” when referring to Chinese fans on Thursday (May 24) - and he was not the only one.
Since President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) vowed to protect Taiwan's sovereignty during his inauguration on Monday (May 20), at least 20 Taiwanese celebrities have shared a CCTV Weibo post declaring: “China will eventually achieve complete reunification.”
Ashin and pop singer Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) both controversially used “we” when interacting with Chinese fans in separate incidents, while Taiwanese crooner Shin (蘇見信) used the word on Weibo, per CNA.
Ashin told his fans at a concert in Beijing, “When we come to Beijing we Chinese must eat Peking duck.” This remark quickly became a trending topic on Weibo and sparked discussion among Taiwanese.
Shin doubled down on Weibo, “From the past until now, I have always supported reunification.” He added, "We are all the Chinese nation with the same culture. Let's go, everyone! Let's have more goodwill exchanges, I look forward to the arrival of the day of peaceful reunification."
An audience line from Jolin Tsai also caused controversy. When performing recently in Nanchang, China, she shouted, "We, in Nanchang, China, are the most enthusiastic."
Also expressing their opinions on Weibo were Taiwanese singer Cyndi Wang (王心凌) and actress Janine Chang (張鈞甯). Wang, who had previously been noncommittal, on Thursday shared a post from China's state-run newspaper the "People's Daily" that said, "The national territory cannot be divided into ethnic groups, cannot be separated." and added, "I am a member of the Chinese nation."
By Saturday (May 25), Wang's post had topped the Weibo hot search list. Chang reposted the same People's Daily statement and wrote, “I do not support Taiwan independence.”
On Wednesday (May 22), China's state-run CCTV responded by uploading a post to Weibo claiming that “Taiwan's “reunification” with China is “unstoppable.” Taiwanese singer and actress Nana Ouyang (歐陽娜娜), journalist Patty Hou (佩侯岑), and crooner Aska Yang (楊宗緯) all forwarded it immediately.
Chinese also created a spreadsheet of Taiwanese artists who were non-committal. Subsequently, more Taiwanese entertainers such as Angela Chang (張韶涵), Rainie Yang (楊丞琳), Kenji Wu (吳克群), Jiro Wang (汪東城), Michelle Chen (陳妍希), Ming Dao (明道), Dylan Kuo (郭品超), Calvin Chen (辰亦儒), and Lai Kuan-lin (賴冠霖) shared the post and wrote, “China will eventually achieve complete reunification, and Taiwan will surely return to the embrace of the motherland!”
