On the 1st, Taiwanese celebrities such as Wu Kang-ren, Wang Leehom, and Patty Hou shared articles from Chinese mainland state media, congratulating the Mainland on its National Day. Chiu Chui-cheng, Minister of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), expressed regret about this, emphasizing that although such remarks are not subject to legal penalties, he reminded everyone not to cross the two red lines of "diminishing the sovereignty of the Republic of China" and "invading Taiwan through armed reunification."
On Wednesday, China Central Television (CCTV) and People's Daily posted on Weibo, calling for "joint reposts" and "relay reposts" to express congratulations on the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Wang Leehom, Patty Hou, Wu Kang-ren, Nicky Wu, Annie Yi, and other Taiwanese celebrities successively reposted related congratulatory messages.
According to Taiwanese media reports, on the 2nd, Chiu Chui-cheng, during a radio interview, stated that the way of life in a free and democratic society is to respect everyone's cultural and sovereign identity, and he respects celebrities who want to develop their careers in Mainland China. "However, defending national sovereignty and freedom and democracy is also a consensus and core interest of Taiwan."
Chiu Chui-cheng criticized that the Mainland's entertainment environment is often subject to certain ideological interference, with a relatively unfree creative climate and a great deal of oversight. Every time specific dates arrive, there are always celebrities making political statements. The Mainland claims these are voluntary actions by the artists, but through Taiwan's investigation, many celebrities were actually unaware, as it was done by Beijing-based management companies.
Chiu Chui-cheng said that Taiwanese management companies also claim they were coerced, with the artists themselves unaware, but the MAC has informed them that such actions can greatly hurt the feelings of compatriots in Taiwan.
Chiu Chui-cheng emphasized that Taiwanese celebrities' expressions regarding cultural or sovereign identity, as well as praise for Mainland China, fall within the scope of free speech, and the government will not punish these remarks by law, but expresses regret about them. Taiwan only takes action if the behavior involves "belittling Taiwan, eliminating the sovereignty of the Republic of China," or echoing Mainland military drills and "invading Taiwan through armed reunification;" if these two red lines are crossed, actions will be taken according to the law.
Chiu Chui-cheng said that punishment is not the goal; administrative actions are to enable artists to say no to political coercion from the Mainland and help them have greater freedom. The Mainland's practice of forcing artists and Taiwanese businesspeople to make political statements as part of united front tactics is what causes the two sides of the strait to drift further apart; people in Taiwan are very opposed to and do not agree with it.