Daily Times

Controversy has broken out at the Golden Horse awards amid a row over the status of Taiwan. The 55th annual awards – dubbed the “Chinese Oscars” – were held in the Taiwanese capital Taipei on Saturday.

Fu Yue, who won the best documentary award, said in her acceptance speech that she hoped Taiwan would be recognised as “independent”.

Her words appeared to spark opposition from mainland Chinese stars, while Taiwan’s president has also waded in.

Taiwan’s status is sensitive. The island has been self-ruling since 1949 but China regards it as a breakaway province it will reunite with one day.

Fu, whose documentary Our Youth in Taiwan was about the island’s 2014 Sunflower Movement, said that “I hope one day our country will be recognised and treated as a truly independent entity. This is my biggest wish as a Taiwanese.”

Mainland Chinese former Best Actor winner Tu Men then raised more eyebrows by saying he was honoured to present an award in “China, Taiwan” a phrase many Taiwanese object to. He added that the two sides were like a close family.

Published in Daily Times, November 19^th 2018.