Ang Lee Says China Boycott of Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards a Loss
8:13 PM PST 11/25/2019 by the Associated Press


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Ang Lee

Beijing’s order to give Saturday night’s awards show the cold shoulder was part of its campaign to rachet up economic and political pressure on the island it claims as its own territory.

Taiwanese filmmaker Ang Lee says China’s boycott of Taiwan’s Golden Horse film awards demonstrates how politics can take its toll on the arts.

Beijing’s order to give Saturday night’s awards show the cold shoulder was part of its campaign to rachet up economic and political pressure on the island it claims as its own territory.

Speaking to reporters Saturday night, Lee said politics was “an aspect we do not want to see. But we have to face it, because we live in this world.”

“Everybody knows it, it is indeed a loss, no matter the red carpet or the films,” continued Lee, the festival’s chair. “But, of course, our best films, I personally think that they are not less good than the previous years. We still have very good films this year.”

China held its own Golden Rooster film awards on Saturday, featuring films approved by Communist Party censors.

Even without the ban, Chinese artists might have found it difficult to attend after Beijing issued a ban on solo travel to Taiwan beginning Sept. 1.

Chinese participation came into doubt following last year’s ceremony, when documentary director Fu Yue said during her award acceptance speech that she hoped the world would one day recognize Taiwan as an independent country, something only a handful of nations currently do.

Taiwan split from mainland China amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing considers the self-ruled island part of its territory.

Speakers at Saturday’s Golden Horse Awards also expressed support for anti-government protestors in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory of Hong Kong.

Entertainment figures in Taiwan and Hong Kong have routinely been blacklisted in China after expressing pro-independence or pro-democracy views.

When politics takes its toll on the arts, the arts can take its toll on politics.