Beijing warns Taiwanese against 'two-faced' actions after TV host attends rally

A commentary account affiliated with the Chinese military, "Junzhengping," criticized a "Taiwanese public figure" on social media after Tsai appeared at the opening of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Puma Shen’s campaign headquarters. The account stated that Taiwan independence is a matter of principle with "no room for ambiguity" and warned that those who profit from the Chinese market while "flirting with Taiwan independence" would face an "unbearable price."

While Tsai reportedly attended the event to observe different perspectives and did not deliver a speech or publicly endorse Shen, the PLA-affiliated account interpreted his presence as support for Taiwan independence. The Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua later stated that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China and that "on questions of major right and wrong there is no space for ambiguity." He further warned that "no one, under any circumstances, can earn the dividends of the mainland's development while colluding with 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."

This escalation from social media commentary to an official government statement underscores Beijing's intent to draw political red lines for Taiwanese public figures with mainland ties. A Taiwanese media outlet, United Daily News, published a commentary that was later removed, describing Junzhengping as having "drawn its blade" and warning Tsai could face "dual political and social death" in China. A separate Chinese media account also accused ETtoday of being pro-green and promoting DPP politicians, calling for editorial staff replacement. These incidents suggest Beijing is leveraging market access and commercial interests to influence Taiwanese entertainers, businesses, and media organizations, aiming to maintain domestic political stability and interfere in Taiwan's elections.