"BBC" looks into the dispute between Tsai Kangyong and Mbappe, revealing Beijing's political plan to rein in nationalism

Taiwanese artist Tsai Kang-yong appeared at the Democratic Progressive Party's Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang's campaign headquarters inauguration meeting on October 4, triggering criticism from some Chinese netizens. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Chinese website published an article on the 6th, juxtaposing the Tsai Kang-yong controversy with the Japanese TV series "VIVANT" and French star Kylian Mbappe's "insulting China" scandal, exploring Beijing's different responses to the three incidents and the political calculations behind them.

"BBC" pointed out that Tsai Kang-yong unexpectedly appeared at the founding meeting of Shen Boyang's campaign headquarters, which was interpreted by some Chinese netizens as involving Taiwan's sovereignty position. Some people on the Internet asked him to be blocked and asked him to express his position, but Chinese officials did not pursue it in a high-profile manner. In contrast, "VIVANT", in which Chinese intelligence officers tortured Japanese spies, triggered a series of tough responses from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense; Mbappe was accused of making negative remarks about Mao Zedong, and the controversy quickly extended to the level of commercial pressure such as brand termination and suspension of broadcasts.

Many scholars told the BBC that when handling disputes, Beijing not only looks at the nationality of the target, but also considers core interests and bilateral relations. Lu Qiu Luwei, associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, analyzed that Taiwan is regarded as a sovereignty issue by Beijing, and its response to Japan is affected by historical memory, while economic, trade and diplomatic relations with Europe and the United States must be weighed. Huang Zhaonian, an associate professor at National Chengchi University, pointed out that the degree of official involvement is also affected by the current situation, citing the Tsai Kang-yong incident as an example. Beijing may be worried that its tough stance will affect Taiwan's reunification campaign.

The report also discussed how China uses market pressure. For example, Kylian Mbappe was terminated from his contract with a Chinese brand, and "VIVANT" partner Sanrio later issued a public apology.

However, the scholars interviewed also talked about the possible limitations that China may face in mobilizing nationalism in the long term. Luqiu Luwei believes that with the frequent occurrence of similar disturbances and the fact that some issues are far away from the lives of ordinary people, the marginal effect of mobilization may gradually decline. Strong emotions online may not translate into equivalent reactions in real society.