An online talk show produced by STR Network, named The Night Night Show with Hello (賀瓏夜夜秀), invited Chinese investigative journalist Wang Zhian (王志安), who is now living in Tokyo after being blacklisted by Beijing, to discuss Taiwan’s election. Wang said that the election was nothing but a spectacle, and the ruling party used disabled people as a tool to win more votes.
He even mimicked Chen Chun-han (陳俊翰), a DPP legislator-at-large candidate and human rights lawyer who has spinal muscular atrophy. Having caused an uproar, Wang initially refused to apologize.
The controversy can be discussed from two aspects: the nature of The Night Night Show with Hello, and the nature of Wang Zhian.
The Night Night Show with Hello has become quite popular due to its racy content and the ways that it talks about politics with sarcasm. The show caters to younger viewers. Each episode is rather short and as a result, the issues discussed on the show cannot be explored in depth. Lacking a significant idea and profound values, the content of The Night Night Show with Hello somewhat resembles short-form videos on TikTok. Additionally, given that it discusses political issues and politicians in a carefully designed manner, the show is sensationalist in the extreme.
I used to enjoy an online show produced by Chen Tzu-chien (陳子見), also known as “Retina” (視網膜). At that time, I believed that Chen was a thoughtful young man capable of challenging the constitutional system and perceived reality. Through his show, he defended Taiwan’s democratic system while opposing the authoritarianism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Although Chen did not mention these ideological values explicitly, the audience could still catch on his ideas organically.
The Night Night Show with Hello is not entirely an entertainment program, nor is it a political talk show. It is simultaneously entertainment and political, and the reason that it tries to be both is to make more profit. In this sense, the show is similar to the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), which attempts to obtain as much benefit as possible under the banner of social justice. The TPP aims to gain more political advantages, whereas the show satisfies its audience by denigrating a certain event or person. Their objective is the same: maximizing profit.
After the show ends, the issues discussed by the show’s guests are left to the public. Nothing has been resolved. Sometimes, as in Wang’s case, the show would damage Taiwan’s democracy.
Inviting Wang as a guest to talk about Taiwan’s election is an act that exploits Taiwanese society. It reminds us of how the CCP would criticize Taiwan’s democracy by publicizing the merits of an authoritarian system. The CCP has ordered a number of “defectors” and “betrayers” to live in democratic countries. They are arranged there to criticize democratic systems, and their presence has become one of several toxic elements that might lead to the disintegration of democratic solidarity.
Wang’s appearance on the show was unexpected. His remarks and behavior were shocking as he displayed his contempt for Taiwan’s democracy. Through Wang, the CCP has successfully intervened in Taiwan’s online talk shows. While The Night Night Show with Hello is pathetic, Taiwanese should be aware of the CCP’s moves and concerned about Taiwan’s democratic future.
The production team of the show must be aware of what they can do. If the show is produced entirely on a profit-making basis without offering any meaningful content, it could eventually lose its audience.
Chen Chi-nung is principal of a junior high school.
Translated by Emma Liu
The gutting of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by US President Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious threat to the global voice of freedom, particularly for those living under authoritarian regimes such as China. The US — hailed as the model of liberal democracy — has the moral responsibility to uphold the values it champions. In undermining these institutions, the US risks diminishing its “soft power,” a pivotal pillar of its global influence. VOA Tibetan and RFA Tibetan played an enormous role in promoting the strong image of the US in and outside Tibet. On VOA Tibetan,
Sung Chien-liang (宋建樑), the leader of the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) efforts to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lee Kun-cheng (李坤城), caused a national outrage and drew diplomatic condemnation on Tuesday after he arrived at the New Taipei City District Prosecutors’ Office dressed in a Nazi uniform. Sung performed a Nazi salute and carried a copy of Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as he arrived to be questioned over allegations of signature forgery in the recall petition. The KMT’s response to the incident has shown a striking lack of contrition and decency. Rather than apologizing and distancing itself from Sung’s actions,
US President Trump weighed into the state of America’s semiconductor manufacturing when he declared, “They [Taiwan] stole it from us. They took it from us, and I don’t blame them. I give them credit.” At a prior White House event President Trump hosted TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家), head of the world’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, to announce a commitment to invest US$100 billion in America. The president then shifted his previously critical rhetoric on Taiwan and put off tariffs on its chips. Now we learn that the Trump Administration is conducting a “trade investigation” on semiconductors which
By now, most of Taiwan has heard Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an’s (蔣萬安) threats to initiate a vote of no confidence against the Cabinet. His rationale is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government’s investigation into alleged signature forgery in the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) recall campaign constitutes “political persecution.” I sincerely hope he goes through with it. The opposition currently holds a majority in the Legislative Yuan, so the initiation of a no-confidence motion and its passage should be entirely within reach. If Chiang truly believes that the government is overreaching, abusing its power and targeting political opponents — then