China vs The KPOP Kid

If you’ve followed this blog, then you know I’m a KPOP (Korean POP Music) fan. See Emma Stone Loves Kpop (July 26, 2015).

Much to the annoyance of my wife Jan I prefer the KPOP girl groups to the boy groups. C’est la vie. Hence my interest in the new KPOP girl group TWICE — a 9-girl group composed of 5 Korean, 3 Japanese, and 1 Taiwanese member whose name is Chou Tzuyu.

Last November during a Korean TV skit, the 16-year-old Miss Tzuyu waved small Korean and Taiwanese flags for all of a few moments.

TWICE Member Chou Tzuyu & the Flag Incident

Then just a few days ago, a Taiwanese singer who resides in mainland China apparently just viewed the video and accused Miss Chou of being a traitor to China because she waved the Taiwanese, not the Chinese, flag — meaning she was in favor of two Chinas, not one.

Cue the crazies.

The online (“netizens”) community blew up in response and Miss Chou issued an online apology:

Can you say “Hostage Release Video”? Yikes! Her bows were so deep that she probably hit her head on the floor.

I’m certain that JYP Entertainment, the management of the group TWICE, had something to do with releasing the video. China is not only a market for American goods, but also for Korea music groups. Nobody wants to offend the Chinese.

However, as luck (?) would have it, the release of Miss Chou’s humiliating video coincided with the Taiwanese presidential elections.

Almost as soon as the video hit the web, Taiwanese politicians were falling over each other in order to denounce the video and support Miss Chou.

Then the worldwide press got a hold of it . . . South China Morning Post, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Irish Times.

. . . the incident may have actually influenced the Taiwanese presidential election!

Finally . . .