Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) rejected Chinese actor Zhang Linghe’s planned visit, citing his public statements and an event application that left the proposed activities unclear; Beijing called the denial politically motivated.
At an Oct. 22 briefing, MAC Deputy Minister Liang Wen-chieh said the proposal linked Zhang’s fan gathering to a professional forum for about 20 people in the audiovisual industry. Liang said the paperwork left open whether fans would need tickets and what kind of event was planned. The proposal said any surplus would go to charity.
In a written response on Oct. 21, MAC said Zhang’s earlier social media posts denigrated Taiwan’s status and cited his speech at the Straits Forum. The council said it welcomed entertainers from mainland China but opposed exchanges with “united-front characteristics.”
Liang had said in April that Zhang’s earlier posts alone would not determine whether he could visit, since the actor might have been under pressure. After Zhang spoke at the forum in June, Liang said he appeared to be using united-front language actively.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) called the rejection politically motivated in an Oct. 21 statement. TAO spokesperson Zhang Han accused Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities of disregarding local residents’ wishes, particularly those of young people, and urged them to ease limits on cultural exchanges.
In a June 17 account, the TAO said the 18th Straits Forum opened in Xiamen on June 13 and that Zhang spoke there, encouraging Taiwan residents to visit mainland China.
The Straits Times reported that an expert said scrutiny in Taiwan had extended beyond celebrities to mainland Chinese people who support reunification. The outlet also reported that some fans argued cultural events could benefit tourism.
Public Television Service reported that MAC rejected a concert application for rapper Wang Yitai in 2024 after promotional material used the description “Taipei, China.” Liang said then that Taiwan welcomed Chinese performers but would not permit promotion that demeaned Taiwan’s status.
Liang said Zhang could be invited again after a period of observation if he avoided similar statements or actions. He gave no date for a review or a new application.
