Taiwanese rock band's lip-synch investigation by China questioned as politically biased, claim Taiwan intelligence officials
China's investigation into a Taiwanese rock band's alleged lip-synching is accused of being politically motivated, aimed at influencing Taiwan's upcoming election, according to Taiwan intelligence officials
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According to Taiwan security officials, China's investigation into alleged lip-synching by a popular Taiwanese rock band may be connected to efforts to sway the upcoming election on the island.
Mayday, a popular rock band in the Chinese-speaking world, is currently being investigated by Chinese officials for allegedly lip-synching during their concerts in Shanghai. The band's record label has denied these allegations multiple times.
During a recent security briefing, two intelligence officials from Taiwan stated that Chinese authorities had been pressuring Mayday for months to publicly declare that both China and Taiwan are part of the same country. According to the Taiwanese officials, these requests began around the start of Mayday's tour in China in May. The officials requested to remain anonymous for security purposes.
People use mobile phones in Taipei City, Taiwan, 27 July 2020. —
People use mobile phones in Taipei City, Taiwan, 27 July 2020.
Ceng Shou Yi/NURPHO/AP
Taiwan is combating a surge of false information from China leading up to a critical election. Officials disclosed at a briefing attended by CNN that individuals have been encouraged to divulge their political views during fan interactions and public interviews. The evaluation was derived from information collected by Taiwan's security agencies in China.
Taiwanese officials stated that when Mayday refused to cooperate, the Chinese Communist Party's influential propaganda department worked with state media to spark extensive public discussions about alleged lip-synching at their concerts in order to pressure them. "We have chosen to make the incident public because it marks the first time they have targeted (Taiwanese artists) in such a significant manner," the officials said.
Taiwanese officials have suggested that the Chinese investigation into Mayday may be connected to Taiwan's upcoming presidential election in January. Taiwan has previously alleged that Beijing has used various tactics, including disinformation, military, and economic operations, to sway the election.
Tensions between Taiwan and China have been increasing in recent years, with the ruling Communist Party of China intensifying military and political pressure on Taiwan. The differing views on relations with China often make elections a gauge of public sentiment toward Beijing. Taiwan's current ruling party is strongly disliked by leaders in Beijing.
CNN has not been able to confirm Taiwan's intelligence assessments independently. However, three sources knowledgeable about Taiwan's pop music industry stated that it is common for Taiwanese artists to encounter political limitations in order to perform in mainland China, which is a highly profitable market due to its large population.
CNN has reached out to the Chinese Communist Partys Publicity Department and Chinas Cyberspace Administration for comment.
Taiwanese band Mayday, seen here at the Golden Melody Awards Ceremony on June 24, 2017 in Taipei, are among the top rock groups in the Chinese speaking world
Visual China Group/Getty Images
The allegations
Several Taiwanese artists have faced challenges in China due to their outspokenness about the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own territory even though it has never governed it.
But Mayday - sometimes dubbed the "Asian Beatles" -Â has largely steered clear of politics and maintained huge popularity among mainland Chinese fans.
Chen Hsin-hung, better known by his stage name Ashin, of Taiwanese rock band Mayday, performs during the 12th Migu Music Awards in Shanghai, China, 8 December 8, 2018.
Stringer/Imagine China/Reuters
Taiwanese rock band Mayday under investigation for lip-synching during performances in China.
Mayday is facing allegations of lip-synching during their recent series of shows in Shanghai. The band performed eight times over a 10-day period in mid-November, attracting a total audience of over 360,000.
In late November, controversy erupted when a music vlogger on Bilibili, a major video-sharing platform in China, uploaded a video analyzing the vocals of 12 songs performed live by the band Mayday's lead singer, Ashin, at their concert in Shanghai on November 16. The vlogger alleged that his analysis revealed Ashin lip-synched at least five songs during the three-hour show, citing the precise pitch of the vocals in those songs compared to the fluctuating pitch in the other songs.
The vlogger's accusations spread rapidly on the social media platform Weibo, becoming the most popular trending topic and receiving hundreds of millions of views.
On December 3, the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau, a municipal government department responsible for commercial performances, announced an investigation, which was widely covered by major Chinese state media.
Earlier this month, Mayday's record label Bin Music released a statement dismissing the lip-synching accusations as "malicious attacks, rumors, and slander," stating that they have significantly harmed the band's reputation. The record label has not addressed CNN's inquiries regarding Taiwan's intelligence assessments.
CNN also contacted the Taiwan Affairs Office of China and the music vlogger on Bilibili for their comments.
According to Chinese media, the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau stated that the investigation is still ongoing on Monday.
Taiwan is in the midst of a presidential election campaign
Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images
Shifting red lines
Taiwanese artists have faced consequences for making politically sensitive remarks while performing in China, even if the comments appeared harmless. In August, a Taiwanese indie band received backlash after mistakenly implying that Taiwan is not part of China during a performance in Shanghai. They later apologized and offered refunds.
In 2000, Taiwanese singer A-mei was banned for a year after performing the Taiwanese anthem at former President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration. Chen belonged to the Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing disapproves of due to its pro-independence stance.
"A lot of Taiwanese artists have to censor themselves," said a Taiwanese music producer, requesting anonymity due to current industry involvement.
"They often cannot say anything related to Taiwans politics, or they could easily lose their opportunity to perform [in China]."
Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaks earlier this month at meeting of top Communist Party officials.
Li Xueren/Xinhua/Getty Images
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The producer also noted that it was unusual for lip-synching allegations to make big headlines in China.
"They said it's not uncommon for numerous allegations to surface against different artists every year, but the magnitude of this current situation is unprecedented,"
According to Lin Chen-yu, a lecturer at Cardiff University specializing in China's censorship of Taiwanese music, the pressure on Taiwanese artists has been mounting in recent years.
Instead of just refraining from expressing pro-Taipei sentiments, Taiwanese artists are now being pressured by Chinese authorities to openly declare their support for "the motherland," according to Lin. In recent years, several Taiwanese artists have taken to social media to commemorate China's national day, while choosing to remain silent on Taiwan's own national day.
"The pressure is especially bigger for mega stars," she added.
