A claim by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice presidential candidate Jaw Shaw-kong (趙少康) that pop superstar Taylor Swift turned down an offer to perform in Taiwan due to “geopolitical risks” did not reflect reality, the Ministry of Culture said on Monday.
During a televised debate between Taiwan’s vice presidential candidates on Monday, Jaw used the claim to criticize the Democratic Progressive Party’s cross-strait policy and argue that it was increasing tensions in the region.
He said that in his capacity as chairman of the Broadcasting Corp of China (中廣), he extended an offer to Swift to hold a concert at the Taipei Dome after the stadium opened in November last year.
Photo: AP
Jaw said the singer initially agreed, but later declined, citing geopolitical risks.
The claim has not been independently confirmed or debunked, and the ministry did not weigh in on the specifics of the claim in a statement issued later on Monday after the debate.
Instead, it disputed Jaw’s statement based on the many major performers that have held concerts in Kaohsiung since COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ended and the acts planning to come to Taiwan this year.
“These all serve as the best proof to show that what the KMT vice presidential candidate said was not true,” the statement said, without providing any other comment on the Swift claim.
Among the acts that have performed in Taiwan in the past year are British band Coldplay, K-pop group Blackpink and the Backstreet Boys, the ministry said.
In addition, K-pop group Super Junior and British singer Ed Sheeran have announced the dates for their tours this year, which included concerts in Kaohsiung, it said.
In addition to pop artists, many well-known orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic have also performed in Kaohsiung, it added.
The ministry said that it hoped candidates nominated by the KMT would support efforts to organize concerts featuring international artists.
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