Recently, Hong Kong singer Andy Lau held a concert at the Taipei Arena, where he performed the well-known song “Chinese People.” Created to celebrate Hong Kong’s return to China, the song has been a staple in Andy Lau’s concert tours for over 20 years. However, in Taipei, some politicians from the pan-Green camp (pro-secession in the island’s political spectrum) reacted strongly, claiming that “Andy Lau is here to engage in united front work” and stating that the concert “is not worth seeing.”
This reaction reveals just how fragile the mind-set of “Taiwan independence” supporters truly is.
“Hand in hand, regardless of you and me; heads up high, walking forward; let the world know we are Chinese …” In the eyes of “Taiwan independence” secessionists, these lyrics have already made them feel “attacked.” They resorted to their usual tactics, attempting to label Andy Lau as “pro-Communist” and unleashing a wave of hate-filled reports and comments to incite online attacks against him, thereby politicizing a normal cultural exchange.
However, they likely overlooked the fact that both the lyricist and composer of this song are from Taiwan. During the concert, when Andy Lau sang “Chinese People,” the chorus from the entire audience further demonstrated the sentiments of the people on the island.
“Taiwan independence” secessionists collude with anti-China forces by selling out Taiwan region’s interests, while on the island, they are overly sensitive and view everything as a threat. Any association with the “mainland” or “motherland” is met with all kinds of suppression.
For instance, foods like Huang Fei Hong spicy crispy peanut and Luosifen (river snail rice noodles) from the Chinese mainland have been banned by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in the Taiwan region. While popular mainland dramas like Empresses in the Palace and Joy of Life enjoy a following on the island, many pan-Green camp politicians secretly watch them, yet the DPP authorities publicly label these shows as “tools for united front work.” Mainland platforms such as iQIYI, Taobao, and Douyin are very popular among the Taiwan residents, leading to their ban.
The DPP authorities have employed all methods to obstruct and undermine cross-Straits cultural exchanges, fundamentally out of fear that compatriots on both sides will draw closer together. However, public sentiment cannot be suppressed. The DPP’s clumsy “anti-China” tactics are not gaining traction among netizens on the island.
This time, the frantic attempts of the pan-Green camp to sway public opinion online not only failed to yield any advantage but were also met with ridicule and criticism from netizens: “I just want to see my idol sing and perform; you guys are being too political,” “Please, if you don’t understand, don’t make a fuss; everyone sings this song at KTV,” “If Andy Lau is here for ‘united front work,’ why are there still pan-green camp legislators buying tickets to the concert?”
Compatriots on both sides of the Straits belong to the Chinese nation and are all Chinese; this is something that flows in our blood and is etched in our genes. The pan-green camp’s attempts to manufacture opposition by promoting an “us vs them” mentality and seizing any opportunity for sensationalism – sometimes even fabricating and distorting facts – are bound to fail.
They should not forget that the mainstream public opinion on the island desires peace over war, development over regression, exchange over separation, and cooperation over confrontation. Attempting to obstruct cross-Straits exchanges is destined to be like trying to cut water with a sword; it will only lead to greater flow.
Both sides share the nourishment and cultivation of Chinese culture, which is a historical and cultural foundation that no political force can dismantle. Regardless of how the DPP authorities distort facts and create obstacles, people on both sides maintain ongoing interactions and cultural exchanges. The Chinese cultural genes flowing in the blood of the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots cannot be altered by the “Taiwan independence” forces’ efforts to promote “de-Sinicization” or to undermine cultural exchanges across the Straits.
GT
