Kevin Tsai says he has never supported Taiwan independence
Television host Kevin Tsai has publicly denied supporting Taiwan independence following backlash over his attendance at a campaign event for a DPP candidate. Tsai apologized for the controversy, stating his presence was for interview research and not an endorsement of political views.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intense political pressure on public figures regarding cross-strait relations and the sensitivity of the Taiwan independence issue in Chinese-speaking media markets.
Add TT as Preferred Source Television host Kevin Tsai (蔡康永) last night broke his silence over a controversy surrounding his appearance at a campaign event for Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋), saying he had never supported Taiwan independence.
“I have always hoped for friendly cross-strait relations. I have never supported Taiwan independence,” Tsai wrote in a post on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo.
Tsai, who has hosted television shows in China, attended the opening of Shen’s campaign headquarters on Oct. 4, drawing criticism from Chinese social media users and prompting some Chinese companies to distance themselves from him.
Photo: Screen grab from Tsai's Sina Weibo
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office also criticized those who, it said, sought to benefit from the Chinese market while maintaining ties with what it called “Taiwan independence forces.”
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