TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Several Taiwanese celebrities reposted a Chinese media statement on Wednesday (May 22) that Taiwan must return to China, after President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other.
On Monday (May 20), Lai in his inauguration speech said Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other. He urged Beijing to stop its threats against the country and respect the will of the Taiwanese, which China interpreted as an attempt to promote Taiwanese independence.
In response, Chinese state-run media CCTV on its Weibo account posted, “Taiwan has never been a country and will never become one,” per CNA. It added, “Taiwanese independence is a dead end. Unification with the motherland is unstoppable! China will eventually achieve complete unification.”
Over 30 celebrities reposted the statement, including Chinese actresses and singers Yang Mi (楊冪), Zhao Lusi (趙露思), and Dilraba Dilmurat (迪麗熱巴).
However, several Taiwanese celebrities also reposted the statement, including singer and actress Nana Ouyang (歐陽娜娜), journalist Patty Hou (佩侯岑), actor and model Darren Chen (官鴻), and actor and singer Riley Wang (王以綸). Nana Ouyang, who has been outspoken about her belief that Taiwan is a part of China, included the hashtag, “China will eventually achieve complete unification,” and added, “Taiwan must return to the embrace of the motherland!”
The posts were met with disapproval by Taiwanese netizens. One person commented about Nana Ouyang, “I’ve been your fan for a long time, but I love Taiwan more.” Another said, “It’s sad, you can just immigrate. Don’t come back to Taiwan.”
Nana Ouyang (歐陽娜娜) repost of Chinese state media statement. (Weibo screenshot)
