The issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty is one where many Chinese and Taiwanese stars avoid speaking as many worry about getting criticised. Unfortunately for Malaysian-born actress Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊), her recent social posting opened the gates for backlash.
The Oscar-winning actress recently visited Taiwan to officiate the new Tiffany & Co. flagship boutique at Taipei 101 Mall. Michelle appeared at the event, dressed in a black minidress and donning jewellery by Tiffany & Co. worth NT$300 million (approximately RM40.32 million). She also spoke to the media during the event, saying she was thankful for the warm hospitality she received in Taiwan.
A few days later, Michelle shared photos of the event on her social media. In her caption, the star wrote, “Thank you Tiffany for inviting us to Taipei China and amazing hospitality by Jack! So happy to see so many fans joining us at 101. So so cool cheers!!”. While the 62-year-old only intended to show her gratitude for the warm welcome, her captions unfortunately sparked criticism from Taiwanese netizens.
Many highlighted the use of “Taipei China” in her caption, suggesting that Michelle supports the notion that Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to the People’s Republic of China. This issue understandably prompted backlash for the actress. Some even mocked her, commenting “Kuala Lumpur China” in response to her caption. Others expressed disappointment, saying she could’ve used “Taipei” in her captions without mentioning China.
As of writing, Michelle has yet to address the issue, but she’s not the only star who has faced criticism over this matter. Recently, several China-based Taiwanese stars, including Ouyang Nana (歐陽娜娜) and Patty Hou (侯佩岑) faced backlash from Taiwanese politicians and citizens for sharing Chinese propaganda posts claiming that Taiwan is a “province” of China. Celebrities who remain “neutral” on the topic also get called out by Chinese and Taiwanese fans.
It’s unclear whether Michelle will address this issue or make amendments to her caption – but what are your thoughts on this? Do you think the star deserves the backlash? Or was it a misunderstanding?
Sources: China Press, Instagram, Facebook
