Actor SsiSidi Supports Domestic Badminton Players
Some Chinese Netizens Oppose, "Are They Advocating Taiwan Independence?"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] A famous Taiwanese celebrity faced a situation where advertisements were cut off in mainland China after cheering for Taiwanese athletes participating in the '2020 Tokyo Olympics'.
Taiwanese actress Hsu Hsi-ti posted on her Instagram on the 3rd (local time) saying, "(Watching the match) I almost died," along with "We lost, but I am proud," and shared a photo of Taiwanese national badminton player Tai Tzu-ying. Tai Tzu-ying lost to a Chinese player in the women's singles badminton final at this Olympics.
Hsu Hsi-ti is an actress and professional MC mainly active in Taiwan and mainland China. She is known locally by the stage name 'Xiao S'.
After Hsu Hsi-ti posted this, the situation took an unexpected turn. Some Chinese netizens who saw her post expressed anger, claiming she supported a player who advocated for Taiwan's independence.
They argued that Tai Tzu-ying, whom Hsu cheered for, had previously claimed 'Taiwan independence.' They also criticized Hsu for using the term 'national representative' to describe Tai Tzu-ying.
Shishidi left a message supporting Taiwanese athlete Tai Tzu-ying, who participated in the Tokyo Olympics. / Photo by Instagram Capture
Currently, China adheres to the 'One China' principle, which holds that Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are all parts of the People's Republic of China. In this context, recognizing Tai Tzu-ying as a representative of the Taiwanese 'nation' is seen as violating the One China principle.
Netizens on China's social media platform 'Weibo' criticized Hsu, saying things like, "Taiwan and Hong Kong are just 'regional representatives' of China. You need to know that," and "This is practically no different from advocating Taiwan's independence."
According to Chinese-language media such as 'China Times News,' mainland Chinese companies that had hired Hsu as a model also began terminating contracts.
Four companies, including the health drink brand 'Shouquan Zai' and adult product company 'Osuga,' reportedly ended their contracts with Hsu. These companies explained, "We firmly support national unity according to the One China principle," and "We oppose all words and actions that attempt to divide the country," while announcing the termination of their contracts with Hsu.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese netizens left supportive comments on Hsu Hsi-ti's Instagram. These netizens defended her, saying, "The Olympics is a festival for the world; what does nationality have to do with it?", "Chinese netizens maliciously attacked Hsu," and "You did nothing wrong."
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