Chinese actor Zhang Linghe unable to enter Taiwan after authorities reject his application
China criticised the decision, accusing Taiwan's authorities of restricting cultural exchanges for political reasons.
Actor Zhang Linghe, a popular figure in Chinese entertainment, was denied entry to Taiwan by authorities after his application for a visit was rejected. The decision, announced by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), cited concerns over Zhang's past social media posts that allegedly undermined Taiwan's status and the unclear purpose of his proposed visit.
In an unexpected turn, China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) responded to the rejection, accusing Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of restricting cultural exchanges for political reasons. The TAO's spokesperson, Zhang Han, argued that cross-strait cultural exchanges are beneficial and welcomed by both sides, and accused the DPP of disregarding the desires of Taiwanese youth and restricting mainland performers' visits.
In response, the MAC clarified that while they welcome mainland Chinese entertainers for cultural exchanges, such activities must not involve United Front efforts, which aim to promote peaceful unification. The MAC also pointed out that Zhang had been scheduled to give a speech at the Straits Forum, a platform organized by China, further suggesting that his visit might have been politically motivated.
The MAC's decision comes amid a series of incidents involving Taiwanese entertainers, including Kevin Tsai and Huang Yi-hao, raising questions about the motivations behind the restrictions.
Written by urgent.news from Mothership's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
