Taiwan has cancelled a planned Taipei concert by a Chinese rapper after he used the insulting term “Taipei, China” in promotional materials. The performer, Wang Yitai, from Chengdu, has been banned from the island following the announcement by the Taiwanese government’s Mainland Affairs Council.
The term “Taipei, China” is considered offensive as it implies that Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is a Chinese city under Beijing’s authority. This stance aligns with Beijing's position on potentially annexing Taiwan by force and undermines the island’s democratic values.
Wang Yitai, although not widely recognized outside China, is associated with a rap label in Chengdu, a city known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse performers. Chengdu is also home to the rap group CD Rev, which gained international attention for producing nationalistic tracks that draw parallels between Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as making derogatory references to former President Tsai Ing-wen.
Conversely, China frequently restricts Taiwanese artists, many of whom enjoy popularity in the mainland, for expressing support towards Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates for the island's de-facto independence from China.
While Taiwan generally embraces cultural exchanges with Chinese artists, the Mainland Affairs Council emphasized the importance of conducting cross-strait interactions with reciprocity and mutual respect. Any materials or promotions that diminish Taiwan’s sovereignty will not be tolerated.
Although Taiwan's official name is the Republic of China, it is commonly referred to as Taiwan. The island competes in the Olympics as “Chinese Taipei” out of deference to Beijing, which has pressured countries to reduce formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, resulting in the island having only 12 remaining allies.
