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Taiwanese opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) — commonly known as the Chinese Nationalist Party, a major political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan) — chairperson, Cheng Li Wun, previously revealed that Taiwanese youth who joined her recent visit to mainland China expressed hope to invite mainland actor Zhang Ling He to Taiwan, in the hope of easing cross-strait tensions.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council held a press conference on the morning of April 22 (local time), where spokesperson Zhang Han (a member of the Chinese Communist Party) answered questions from reporters.
A reporter asked for a comment on, "Kuomintang chairperson Cheng Li Wun recently revealed in an interview that young people who joined her on a visit to mainland China told her, 'Why have you adults made cross-strait relations so complicated? You just need to invite Zhang Ling He to Taiwan.'"
Zhang Han said that recently, mainland Chinese TV dramas, particularly Pursuit of Jade, have been popular on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and that the lead actor Zhang Ling He has received attention and affection from audiences in Taiwan.
She stated today (April 22) that this vividly demonstrates the role of film and television cultural exchanges in bringing people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait "closer psychologically [emotionally or at heart]".
Zhang also emphasized that "we [mainland China] have always supported a 'two-way engagement' between the film and television cultural sectors across the Strait and are glad to see mainland artists traveling to Taiwan to meet its people and enhance mutual understanding."
The news comes against the backdrop of tense China-Taiwan relations, where China regards self-governing Taiwan as a territory that broke away from the mainland and is expected to ultimately come under its authority, and it has not excluded the possibility of using both soft power and military force to achieve that outcome.
However, Taiwan considers itself separate from the Chinese mainland, operating under its own constitution and led by democratically elected officials. But at the same time, it maintains close ties with China, which is its largest trading partner, and many people in Taiwan have business interests and family relationships across the strait.
Taiwan has also been the center of attention of the world due to its commercial significance.
"One firm, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), produces more than 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductor chips. These chips are essential for smartphones, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and cutting-edge military systems.
Taiwan's dominance of advanced chips acts as a chokepoint for the global economy," writes The Conversation.
It is also important to note that this report comes in the wake of Zhang Ling He's foundation-wearing general controversy, which you can read about here and here.
Source: ETtoday, Dajiang.com
