China's new law stifles Taiwan's film industry, director warns

Director Alex Wang has warned that China's new "National Unity Promotion Law," implemented on July 1, is instilling fear and prompting self-censorship within Taiwan's film industry. He believes this will make it increasingly difficult to secure funding and actors for politically sensitive productions.

Wang explained that while China dictates the framework, its enforcement is their concern. However, for Taiwan, this law creates a "red line" that many Taiwanese people fear, leading to self-censorship. This, in turn, constrains market capital and actors' willingness to participate. He stated this is not speculation but a reality based on his decade-long struggle in this area.

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For Taiwan, this framework will make many Taiwanese people fearful of this line, leading to self-censorship, restricting market capital and actors' willingness!

"Everyone says telling Taiwan's own democratic story is important and passionate!" Wang wrote on Facebook. "But in reality, for productions directly addressing China-Taiwan political issues, without the Chinese market, without international OTT procurement, and facing potential sanctions that could affect business, which foolish Taiwanese producer or investor would dare to proceed?"

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Everyone says telling Taiwan's own democratic story is important and passionate! But in reality, for productions directly addressing China-Taiwan political issues, without the Chinese market, without international OTT procurement, and facing potential sanctions that could affect business, which foolish Taiwanese producer or investor would dare to proceed?

Wang elaborated that people follow the money. China doesn't need to "scold" Taiwanese filmmakers; it only needs to hint that they will "lose market access, not make money," or that "touching these topics is dangerous." This is enough to deter them. He emphasized that this is not about good or bad, but the reality of the current environment. The threat of sanctions, coupled with the potential loss of revenue, makes fundraising for films like "The Battle for National Destiny", which directly addresses Taiwan's first democratically elected president and the cross-strait crisis, extremely difficult and arduous.

"When people see a producer making this type of film facing fundraising difficulties, having to mortgage their house twice over and still falling short, who would dare to make such a topic?" Wang questioned. He stressed that this is not a complaint but a reminder of the reality he has personally experienced on the cultural and cinematic battlefield between China and Taiwan. He concluded by calling for support for "The Battle for National Destiny," which is currently fundraising, urging friends to help tell their own hero stories.

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When people see a producer making this type of film facing fundraising difficulties, having to mortgage their house twice over and still falling short, who would dare to make such a topic?