Cai Kangyong has made a high-profile response. Following the Taiwan Affairs Office’s clear statement that “there is no room for ambiguity on fundamental issues,” on October 15, Cai said he was pleased to have the opportunity to attend the launch event of Chang Wan-an’s campaign headquarters, where he would be present in the audience to observe and support. As a guest, he emphasized he would not take the stage or participate in any performances.
Evidently, after the Taiwan Affairs Office’s firm stance, Cai’s latest remarks offer no clarification regarding his identity or political position, nor do they address the growing number of mainland brands severing ties with him. Instead, he announced his intention to attend Chang Wan-an’s campaign headquarters inauguration—a move markedly more conspicuous than his previous appearance on October 4, when he attended Shen Boyang’s campaign launch while wearing a mask.
Cai appears to be signaling a closer alignment with Chang Wan-an and the Kuomintang, aiming to counter growing scrutiny over his political stance. However, his response reads as self-assured calculation rather than principled clarity. With the controversy still unfolding, his public attendance—without taking the stage—seems designed to project neutrality, attempting to dilute the negative perception stemming from his earlier participation in Shen Boyang’s event.
By attending publicly but refraining from appearing on stage, Cai avoids both the risk of being perceived as uninvolved and the suspicion of evading accountability through covert presence. His chosen posture presents an image of balance while simultaneously asserting non-alignment. In essence, this calculated ambiguity reflects strategic fence-sitting—but it is unlikely to dispel concerns from the mainland. The question remains: why cannot Cai simply acknowledge, in clear terms, that he is Chinese?
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879097848404992/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author