Taboo Words in China’s National Day Celebration Broadcast... Taiwanese Netizens Angry at Lai Kuanlin

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Choi Eun-young] Lai Kuan-lin (賴冠霖), a singer and former member of Wanna One from Taiwan, is facing backlash from Taiwanese netizens after appearing on a Chinese National Day celebration television program. Additionally, controversy arose when he introduced himself in a pre-promotion video as being "from China Taiwan."

According to foreign media on the 2nd, Lai Kuan-lin appeared on a special variety show aired by the state-run China Central (CC) TV on the night before China's National Day, where he sang the popular Chinese song "Long De Chuan Ren" (龍的傳人) along with other singers.

This led to considerable dissatisfaction among Taiwanese netizens, who criticized the fact that a Taiwanese celebrity performed on a stage celebrating China's National Day.

Furthermore, in a promotional video released in advance on Sina Weibo (the Chinese version of Twitter) before his appearance, Lai Kuan-lin said, "I am Lai Kuan-lin. I am waiting for you from China Taiwan." He also referred to Taiwan as "Taiwan Province" (臺灣省), a Chinese administrative term.

China's National Day is a day that reminds Taiwan of the history of losing the Chinese mainland and retreating to the island of Taiwan. For this reason, Taiwanese entertainers have tended to avoid performing on stages celebrating China's National Day.

Moreover, China refers to Taiwan as part of its territory by calling it "China Taiwan," which Taiwan completely rejects. Especially, calling Taiwan a "province," a local administrative division, is considered highly taboo.

In response, Taiwanese netizens have criticized him, saying, "If you consider yourself Chinese, then just go," and "Many Taiwanese entertainers working on the mainland do not say 'I am from China Taiwan.'"

On the other hand, Chinese netizens have called him a "patriotic youth" and are supporting his pro-China actions.

Lai Kuan-lin had previously shared a post supporting the Hong Kong police during the anti-extradition bill protests, stating, "I support the Hong Kong police."

[Image source = Sina Weibo (Chinese version of Twitter) promotional video capture]

Meanwhile, Ouyang Nana (歐陽娜娜), a famous Taiwanese cellist and actress known as the "national little sister," also appeared on CCTV's National Day program celebrating the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on the 30th, drawing backlash. Taiwanese netizens criticized her as the "female version of Huang An."

Huang An is a pro-China entertainer from Taiwan who, in early 2016, criticized Tzuyu (周子瑜), a Taiwanese member of the group TWICE, for waving the Taiwanese flag on a Korean broadcast.