Chinese authorities praised the decision of Taiwanese actress and model Lin Chi-ling to quit her position as a new board member of the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), after her appointment drew backlash.
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference on Wednesday that the TAICCA had orchestrated and funded films and television productions in recent years that “distort history and hype the ‘mainland threat’”.
“It serves as a political tool for the Democratic Progressive Party to advance ‘cultural Taiwan independence’ and incite anti-China sentiments,” Chen said. “It is wise for figures in Taiwan’s cultural and artistic circles to recognise the true nature of these agencies and draw a clear boundary.”
Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons.
On May 13, the TAICCA said in a press release that Lin had been appointed a member of its board, along with producer Liu Szu-ming and Golden Horse Award-winning actress Chen Shiang-chyi. The move was meant to bring “diverse professional perspectives” to the board, helping to drive the industrialisation and internationalisation of Taiwanese cultural content, the agency said.
“Lin has navigated the Asia-Pacific entertainment industry for over two decades. She stands as Taiwan’s most iconic figure in exporting pop culture globally, with a multifaceted career as a model, actress and host,” the statement said. “We hope she can channel her powers not only on the stage but also to empower more Taiwanese content to reach the screen and shine across the world.”
