China accuses Taiwan of ‘hyping up’ military threat ahead of elections
Al JazeeraDEC 17 2023
Report: China Pressures Taiwanese Band Ahead of Elections
Image copyright: Andrew Chin/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
It's nonsensical to link the upcoming elections in the island of Taiwan with allegations that Mayday had lip-synched at tour concerts in mainland China. Given that the Law Enforcement on Cultural Market and the China Association of Performing Arts have stepped into this case only after the controversy became viral on Bilibili, the PRC's leading video-sharing platform, this probe isn't politically motivated.
Anti-China narrative
Though seeming absurd at first, Beijing pressuring rock band Mayday to make pro-China comments would be in line with its open attempts to influence Taiwan's Jan. 13 elections — including the use of fake social media accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. All Taiwanese parties must jointly condemn Beijing for trying to interfere and meddle in cultural activities.