At the 35th Golden Melody Awards late last month, indigenous Taiwanese singer Panai Kusui won Best Taiwanese Album for Ia-Po (夜婆). In her acceptance speech, she said that this year “also marked the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident. Let’s not forget.” Internet commenters in China responded strongly, while Chinese censors rushed to Chinese social media platforms and outlets to remove her remarks.
Panai’s speech was the most moving segment of the entire awards, meant to give people a sense of the importance of freedom, and highlight the massive differences between the countries on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In Taiwan, people have freedom of speech and expression. They can openly discuss and reflect on historic events and issues.
In China, just the mention of the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre is censored or blocked, and Beijing has heavily suppressed Panai’s music. Examples such as these directly shed light on how different the systems, freedoms and oppression are on the other side of the Strait.
Nineteen eighty-nine, the year the protests broke out in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, was a critical moment in Taiwan’s democratization, producing far-reaching ripples for the nation’s development. China, on the other hand, brutally crackdown on the protestors in Beijing, which is an indelible scar in its history.
That year created a clear juxtaposition of Taiwan and China, forming a major divide for the countries’ developmental paths.
Taiwan’s musicians participate in a diverse array of social movements, reflecting the importance Taiwan’s music world places on social responsibility. Panai is one such performer. Her activities and voice epitomize Taiwan’s music world.
Lin Ta-jun (林大鈞), bassist of the Taiwanese rock band The Chairman (董事長樂團), praised Panai, saying that she has long been a voice for human rights and social movements, putting her words into action through her music.
“She is like Bob Dylan using his music to express his anti-war message,” he said.
More than 20 languages are spoken in Taiwan. That diversity reflects how accepting and diverse Taiwanese society is. At the Golden Melody Awards, the mother tongues of various groups are blended into a fantastic symphony. It shows the multitude and confidence within Taiwan’s music scene.
Panai’s voice is the best example of this culture of diversity, and she is an inspiration and encouragement for all of Taiwanese society.
Panai’s acceptance speech gives us an opportunity to think about the value of our freedoms. In Taiwan, we enjoy freedom of speech and expression, and we can openly discuss and reflect on the past. In China, this kind of action is heavily censored or blocked. That difference allows us to cherish all we have and know.
Tseng Chien-ju is the pen name of a legislative assistant.
Translated by Tim Smith
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