Resisting political interference, God-sculptor Li Yusheng created a new "protecting platform" helmet for General Denki Qianshun

When Taiwanese art teams expand cultural exchanges overseas, they frequently face obstacles and challenges from external political forces. However, front-line creators often resolve the difficulties with calmness and creativity. The electric general Qianshun created by the sculptor Li Yusheng will be welcomed back to Taipei Shilin Cicheng Palace today (23rd). The words "protect the platform" are engraved on the helmet ears. The reason behind this is the sudden intervention he experienced when he visited the Osaka Expo in Japan with the Ministry of Culture last year.

In an interview, Li Yusheng admitted that last year's performance had to be changed at the last minute, which frustrated the team. However, he turned these setbacks into creative nourishment. This time he created a new helmet for the god general, which was specifically engraved with "Taiwan" and "Osaka Expo". It will be moved to the Tainan National Art Museum's "Taiwan Spectrum" special exhibition in October, using his work to show the world the resilience of Taiwanese culture.

Looking back at the experiences of Taiwan's arts and sports teams on the international stage in recent years, interference incidents have emerged one after another. In August 2024, the Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir performed at the Cantermuth International Choir Festival in Hungary. The conference was forced to remove the flag of the Republic of China on the last day under pressure. The choir brought its own big flag to sing on stage at the closing time. The award-winning children's choir present even distributed small flags to teams from various countries, prompting the entire audience to cheer for Taiwan.

In July 2025, at the World University Games in the Rhein-Ruhr, Germany, the Taiwan Taekwondo men's team won the silver medal. However, after the game, outside parties attempted to steal the Minister of Education's congratulatory message, which led to a quarrel. President Lai Ching-te sternly pointed out at the time that this move was against the spirit of the sport. In the same month at the Osaka World Expo Mengzhou Park, on the eve of the pop-up performance of the "Thanks to the Gods in front of the Temple" by the Taiwanese team, the organizer requested that the hot air balloon national flag pattern on the back panel be covered up due to pressure. After consultation, the Ministry of Culture decided on the spot that the electrical clairvoyant would naturally stand in front of the back panel to block it. The strike team on the same stage hammered hard with a stronger rhythm and successfully completed the task.

A similar situation extends to Central and Southeast Asia. In September 2025, due to external intervention, the Central National Museum of Kazakhstan suddenly lost power and light when the exhibition was about to be completed, and forcibly removed the joint exhibition of Taiwanese artists; in July this year, the "Taiwan Documentary and Film Festival" in Bangkok, Thailand, was asked to withdraw its title from the Ministry of Culture, but fortunately the Thai organizer sternly refused; in early September, the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea restored the name of the Taiwan pavilion, triggering strong protests from other exhibitors and announcing their withdrawal.