Chinese netizen cancels JJ Lin, Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Dee Hsu and other celebs for failing to support ‘One China’ after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan

The backlash around United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s controversial visit to Taiwan despite warnings from Beijing appear to have found new victims—celebrities who did not show support for “One China”.

Big name stars such as Singapore’s JJ Lin, Stefanie Sun, and Jet Li were the target of one Chinese netizen, whose Weibo post, jumped feet first into cancel culture, castigating Chinese celebrities who failed to toe the party line.

It all began after China Central Television (CCTV), a state-owned broadcaster controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, posted over Weibo that there is “Only One China” (只有一个中国).

Ms Pelosi’s congressional visit to Taiwan had implied otherwise, earning both praise and censure. The Speaker, who visited Taiwan on Aug 2, is the highest-ranking U.S. official to land there in more than two decades.

China’s “One China” policy insists, however, that Taiwan is a part of China, and has ignored its independence.

Many Chinese celebrities both on the mainland and Hong Kong shared CCTV’s Weibo post.

But one Chinese netizen went on a witch hunt of sorts for all of those who did not, posting a list of Chinese and Taiwanese show biz stars based on their nationalities.

The list was made up of Singaporean, Malaysian, American, Canadian, and British celebs.

For example, Wilber Pan and Daniel Zhou were listed as US celebs, and Eddie Peng, Edison Chen and Henry Lau are considered to be Canadians.

And included on the list of Singapore celebs are JJ Lin, Stefanie Sun and Jet Li.

The venerable Michelle Yeoh, arguably the most famous Asian actress in Hollywood, also came under the netizen’s ire.

Mandopop king Jay Chou also made the list, as did Malaysian singer Fish Leong as well as Taiwan’s Dee Hsu, the sister of Barbie Hsu.

The poster bizarrely reasoned that “those who didn’t share (CCTV’s post), they definitely have something to hide.”

A number of netizens did push back against the cancel post.

One wrote, “Actually, JJ Lin, Stefanie Sun and Fish Leong aren’t [from China] to begin with. There isn’t any need for them to voice out their opinions at this point, is there?”

But the poster fired back by saying, “Then, did they not earn money in the Mainland? Aren’t they part of our local showbiz scene?” /TISG

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi goes to Singapore; meets PM Lee, Pres Halimah, Lawrence Wong and others, but her Taiwan trip gets most attention from netizens