Taipei:Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an and mayoral candidate Puma Shen have expressed their views following entertainer Kevin Tsai's statement distancing himself from "Taiwan independence" amid alleged pressure from China.
According to Focus Taiwan, Tsai, a well-known television host, posted on his Weibo and Xiaohongshu accounts that he has never supported Taiwan independence and emphasized his desire for friendly exchanges across the Taiwan Strait. The statement, written in Simplified Chinese, followed his attendance at a rally for Puma Shen, which drew criticism from China.
In his post, Tsai explained that he has interviewed over 10,000 individuals since becoming a host in 1998, highlighting that conducting interviews does not imply endorsing the views of his guests. He apologized for any misunderstandings that might have caused trouble for his collaborators and supporters, expressing gratitude for the connections and bonds that have allowed him to be seen and heard.
The backlash from China came after a Weibo account affiliated with China's People's Liberation Army criticized Tsai's attendance at Shen's campaign event, stressing that there is "no room for ambiguity" on Taiwan independence. The account warned against profiting from the Chinese market while engaging with Taiwan independence.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated on Monday that he welcomes Tsai's attendance at his campaign headquarters' opening, emphasizing respect for differing opinions and rejecting any form of anti-democratic intimidation. Puma Shen, on the other hand, defended the freedom of Taiwanese people to attend events without Chinese intervention, describing China's actions as deeply distressing.
Tsai's situation has been compared to a 2016 incident involving Taiwanese K-pop star Tzuyu, who apologized for holding a Republic of China (Taiwan) flag on television. Taiwan's local elections are scheduled for November 28, 2026.
