China promotes film in Taiwan, Taipei calls political linkage tiresome

China's Taiwan Affairs Office has promoted the film "Letter to Grandma" for its upcoming premiere at the 2026 Taoyuan Film Festival in Taiwan. Beijing claims the movie, which depicts a grandmother in China's Chaoshan region awaiting her overseas husband and a grandson's search for his grandfather through "overseas Chinese remittances," can help Taiwanese audiences understand the shared culture and emotions between the two sides of the strait.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, stated that the "Southern Fujian and Guangdong coastal residents' journeys to Southeast Asia" and "crossing the strait to Taiwan" are shared memories for people on both sides, reflecting their deep connection to their homeland and loved ones. He expressed hope that Taiwanese viewers would see their own grandparents in the film and recognize these commonalities.

However, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council strongly criticized Beijing's initiative. The council stated that the fundamental difference between Taiwan and China lies in their incompatible democratic and autocratic systems, not in culture or blood ties. They deemed Beijing's persistent attempts to inject politics into every film "tiresome."