"Freedom to Lecture" Dialogue on democracy and human rights has twists and turns, Tsai Kang-yong has expressed his position

After Cai Kangyong participated in the establishment of Shen Boyang's competition, he was criticized and blocked by the CCP. When the incident broke out, Cai Kangyong was found to have changed the background cover of his Weibo homepage, which has more than 36 million fans, to green. Due to the symbolic meaning of "blue and green" in Taiwan's political culture, this silent move was immediately followed by Little Pink's campaign to "stop pretending and openly confront".

After Tsai Kang-yung participated in the Democratic Progressive Party's Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang's campaign, he was criticized and blocked by the Chinese Communist Party. (File photo) Tsai Kang-yong was born in a Shanghai family. As a figure with a blue background in the entertainment industry and cultural circles, he has considerable influence in the Chinese circle. Later, his "Kyoto People Dududu" article, a high-level acid of intellectual blue defection, attracted 1.75 million people to read it. Although the article was urgently deleted, he still saw that in the entanglement between China's market inducements and Taiwan's democracy and freedom, he turned around slightly and had already parted ways. But then there were twists and turns... He seemed to want to talk to the blue camp and let go of his hatred!

A compromising surrender? Apologize or say goodbye?

On October 26th, Tsai Kangyong "passively" participated in the establishment of Chiang Wanan's presidential election. The day before, he posted on Weibo that he had not "supported Taiwan independence." The blue and red Internet went viral, "Tsai Kangyong apologized, and the blue bird exploded." Tsai's Weibo post did disappoint the Taiwanese faction, but the point is at the end: "If you have ever recognized me, I should I don’t have the chance to say thank you in person again... I wish you all the best..." "Now that fate has arrived, the only thing I can’t worry about is the manufacturers I have worked with and the friends who like me..." Cai probably just wanted to turn around and say goodbye gracefully, but doing so might not please the blue, green, and red sides. Since he has to turn around, why not be more chic? Cai also wanted to say goodbye properly, and his sad emotions were for those who could not forgive him. This article reminds people of Ji Kang, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove during the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Before being framed and executed by Sima Zhao, he calmly played the Guangling San on the execution ground with a bleak sound. A letter of surrender that seems to be a compromise is like a silent protest that has seen through the world, and it is also like a high-pitched and sad farewell song.

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Elections can also be carnivals, they don’t have to rely on tearing apart and killing

However, on October 29th, Cai Kangyong was interviewed by Wang Weizhong. His self-portrait was delicate, sincere and touching, and he turned around and saw his great talent again. Wang: "At this juncture, you used this method to break the fate with mainland fans. Do you think it is appropriate?" Cai Kangyong: "We live in this place, we feel It’s okay to wander around, but if someone thinks it’s not allowed, of course he will be angry, so you won’t wander around because of that?”, “I didn’t want it to happen, this was not caused by me.” Cai felt loss and reluctance, and was helpless in the face of the CCP’s ban, but do I need to self-censor my work?

On October 26, Cai Kangyong "passively" participated in Jiang Wanan's bid for the establishment of the General Assembly. (File photo) Why go to the establishment site of Shen Boyang’s competition? In the interview, in addition to the worries about gay people being oppressed by the police, Tsai Kang-yong believed that Taiwan has to fight for elections every two years, making it difficult for people to be happy. He hopes that future elections can be "fact-based, cheerful and rational", like a carnival, and do not rely on "killing and tearing apart the opponent" to be elected every time. The current is warm and joyful. In fact, Tsai Kangyong has already stated his stance. He said: Choose the lifestyle you want and you will win. The intention is not to be hijacked by ideology and hatred.

Just because you have never supported Taiwan independence does not mean you will not support it in the future.

The CCP's pressure on Tsai Kang-yong's transnational public opinion is essentially to create a chilling effect in the cultural and entertainment circles. The purpose is to force artists, companies and the public to conduct "self-censorship", so that they dare not contact specific political figures or participate in public discussions out of fear of being labeled or blocked. KMT Chairman Cheng Lai-wen's speech acted as an accomplice of authoritarianism, shocking light blue and centrist voters who had previously kept a distance from cross-strait politics. China's political censorship and cross-border pressure have ignored Taiwan's normal internal democratic activities.

Although Tsai has stated that she has "never supported Taiwan independence", it does not mean that she is opposed to it and may support it in the future. If he opposed it, it would be impossible for him to "take the initiative" to show up at the establishment of Shen Boyang's campaign and frequently wave support sticks. Taiwanese need courage to build themselves up, especially those celebrities who once dominated both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Triggering disillusionment and reflection on the KMT’s cross-strait line

Tsai Kangyong: "The wind blows and disappears, but the seeds it brings are still there." The interview has been read more than 1.7 million times in just two days. I believe that Tsai Kangyong's "Kyoto People Dududu" post is the original intention. He deleted the Chinese agent communication channel as a projection of the image of intellectual blue and rationality and character. It is also a symbol of high-income economic blue. His decision triggered the disillusionment and reflection of the Kuomintang's cross-strait line, which is an iconic chemical reaction and catalysis.

Tsai has extremely high soft power and visibility in Chinese society and East Asian cultural circles. As a democratic tension with "sovereign practice", his active appearance in Shen Boyang's campaign for the establishment of the President has indeed helped the ocean current to further break the circle.

Let go of hatred. Tsai Kangyong has actually expressed his stance.

On October 29, Cai Kangyong (right) was interviewed by Wang Weizhong (left). His self-portrait was detailed, sincere and touching. (File photo, taken from YT, China Broadcasting Network) The author is also a second generation from another province. I understand and sympathize with the "collective anxiety" of the descendants of the 1949 immigrants after democratization. Only by taking root in the land beneath our feet and standing up to defend democracy can we not be seduced by the "hatred" incited by "anxiety" and bow to totalitarianism. In the interview with Wang Weizhong, Tsai seemed to be having a dialogue with Blue Camp supporters. Political choices are bound to one's daily life style and sense of happiness. It is time to let go of ethnic anxieties, prejudices, and hatreds. This was his implicit statement, with profound implications.

(The author is former deputy secretary-general of the Lee Teng-hui Foundation)