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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Liu Leyan Claims 'Impossible Not to Be Chinese,' Sparks Backlash Online

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Taiwanese celebrity Liu Leyan claims it's "impossible not to be Chinese" and criticizes Taiwan's youth for lacking prospects.
  • She contrasts living costs in China and Taiwan, stating utilities and daily goods are cheaper in China.
  • Netizens criticize her remarks, suggesting she should remain in China if she finds it superior and stop comparing it to Taiwan.

Taiwanese celebrity Liu Leyan, known for her pro-China stance, has again sparked controversy with her remarks about cross-strait identity and living conditions. In a recent interview with Chinese media, Liu asserted that "it's impossible not to be Chinese" and claimed that Taiwanese youth are struggling to earn money, survive, and lack future prospects.

It's impossible not to be Chinese.

— Liu LeyanStating her view on national identity in a Chinese media interview.

Liu, who stated she grew up in a public housing complex in Nangang, Taipei, where residents identified as Chinese, drew comparisons between life in Taiwan and China. She argued that the cost of living is lower in China, citing cheaper utilities and daily necessities. Liu mentioned living in a three-bedroom apartment in Yinchuan, China, where she kept the air conditioning on daily and her monthly electricity bill was only around 200 Chinese yuan (approximately NT$962). However, she omitted salary information for Yinchuan, where the average monthly urban income was reported as 4,289 yuan (about NT$20,600) and rural income as 1,959 yuan (about NT$9,421) in 2025.

Further fueling the debate, Liu claimed that garlic is expensive in Taiwan, leading her to rarely eat it, whereas many Chinese restaurants offer it for free. This assertion contrasts with the average wholesale price of garlic in Taiwan, which ranges from NT$36 to NT$46 per Taiwanese jin (about 600g), and retail prices between NT$50 to NT$100. Liu also admitted her past activities in the group "F4" involved a "sexy image," suggesting that relying solely on appearance is no longer viable, implying a need for hard work, though it was unclear if she was referring to herself or a general phenomenon.

Taiwanese young people can't earn money, can't survive, and have no future.

— Liu LeyanDescribing her perception of the economic prospects for youth in Taiwan.

Netizens have reacted strongly to Liu's comments, expressing frustration with her constant criticism of Taiwan while living there. Many suggested that if she finds China so appealing, she should relocate permanently and cease comparing the two regions. The sentiment among critics is that her repeated negative comparisons undermine her claims of happiness and fulfillment in China.

Since you think China is so good, we wish you smooth development there and no need to keep looking back and criticizing Taiwan.

— NetizenResponding to Liu Leyan's critical remarks about Taiwan.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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