A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council dismissed as "hype" recent media reports that actors must sign a statement pledging not to engage in activities that separate China's sovereign territory before they participate in any projects on the Chinese mainland.
"It is simply hype created by some Taiwan media," An Fengshan, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told the Global Times on Monday when asked if the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television has required actors from Hong Kong and Taiwan to sign statements to "not engage in any activities which divide China's sovereign territory."
Apple Daily reported on July 26 that people in the entertainment industry from Hong Kong and Taiwan - including pop stars, directors and producers - must sign the statement before producing music, filming or playing roles in movies and television series in the Chinese mainland.
If they sign this statement, any past behavior that violated the pledge will allegedly be forgiven, otherwise they will be banned from engaging in any entertainment-related activities in the Chinese mainland, the report said.
Dream Star, a Beijing-based talent agency for stars from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea told the Global Times on Monday that they had no knowledge of this alleged requirement.
According to the Apple Daily, Taiwan director Ko I-chen said he "heard the news from some friends."
Meanwhile, following several weeks of controversy, the producers of mainland-produced film Meiyou Biede Ai announced on July 15 that they will find a replacement for famous Taiwan actor and director Leon Dai due to overwhelming protests by mainland netizens, who claim the actor is a Taiwan separatist. The film's producers also expressed their support for the unification of the nation in the statement and apologized to audiences for their lack of oversight when choosing actors.
