The Deputy Chairperson of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Shih You-chung, mentioned in a Legislative Yuan session on the 15th that the government is investigating more than 20 artists involved in reposting or making united front statements. In response, Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh added at a routine press conference that if talent agencies are involved in the manipulation, they cannot evade responsibility. However, a detailed report will be released to the public upon concrete investigative findings.
Shih You-chung responded to an inquiry by a KMT legislator, stating that Article 33-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between the Peoples of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area primarily targets collaborations involving political content. Therefore, they will look at whether the collaborating entity violates party, government, or military restrictions. The posted content should have implications of repudiating the sovereignty of the "Republic of China," and the timing seems non-coincidental. Currently, a list of more than 20 individuals is being held and will be announced at an appropriate time.
During an afternoon routine press conference of the Mainland Affairs Council, the media inquired further about whether, in cases handled by talent agencies, the responsibility still lies with the artists. Liang Wen-chieh responded that artists cannot evade responsibility simply because their talent agencies manage social media operations, as they delegate certain actions to them.
● "Providing artists with more free space"
Liang Wen-chieh emphasized that the Mainland Affairs Council is not aiming to penalize artists developing careers in mainland China, but to equip them with justifications to reject requests from mainland authorities or talent agencies to express certain stances at specific times. This reflects that Taiwan does not completely turn a blind eye. "Thus, it's not about punishment; it's about giving artists a bit more free space."
Another media inquiry was about whether it was illegal for artist Ouyang Nana to be invited as the 'Cultural and Tourism Ambassador' of Ji'an, Jiangxi Province. Liang Wen-chieh responded that, usually, such ambassadors in mainland cities are required to have high visibility, good image, and temperament, aiding local cultural development. This is similar to Malaysian artist Namewee and Taiwanese artist Vivian Hsu, who have both served as cultural and tourism ambassadors for Taipei City, and no one considers that a government position. Ouyang Nana's role should be of a similar nature.