The Taiwan Affairs Office responds to the Democratic Progressive Party's threats against 25 Taiwanese celebrities: Expressing national identity is a legitimate right of Taiwanese celebrities

Today, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference. A reporter mentioned that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities recently investigated Taiwanese celebrities who "sang and echoed" the mainland. The head of the Taiwan Cultural Affairs Department stated that they are communicating and understanding the artists' thoughts in accordance with the law. The Mainland Affairs Council said that they have notified 25 Taiwanese celebrities one by one, and if they do not respond within the specified time limit, it will be considered as giving up the opportunity to explain.

Regarding this, the spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, stated that in recent times, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been intensifying their obstruction and restrictions on cross-strait exchanges, and have been doing everything possible to suppress and hinder the travel of Taiwanese compatriots to the mainland, seriously harming the interests and well-being of the Taiwanese people. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities investigating Taiwanese performing artists is essentially an attempt to use the so-called "unification threat" to intimidate and scare those within the island who support and participate in cross-strait exchanges, which is completely out of touch with public sentiment.

Zhu Fenglian emphasized that it should be noted that, as Chinese people, the vast majority of Taiwanese compatriots, including performing artists, express their identification with the country and opposition to "Taiwan independence" secessionism, which is a genuine expression from the heart, and is their legitimate right. We will continue to support and encourage cultural exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the strait, welcome Taiwanese performing artists to come to the mainland to develop, and take necessary measures to safeguard their legitimate and proper rights and interests.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1841578741171328/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.