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The controversial map appeared for 19 seconds in an episode of Go Go Squid! aired on Wednesday. Photo: Weibo

Hit Chinese TV show Go Go Squid! investigated for showing map without Taiwan and Hainan

  • Ministry of Natural Resources says it will look into broadcast of ‘problematic’ map seen in an episode about a video game tournament last week
  • It comes amid escalating tensions between Beijing and the self-ruled island

The Ministry of Natural Resources is investigating popular Chinese television drama Go Go Squid! after a map was seen in an episode last week that did not show Taiwan and Hainan Island as part of China.

It was pointed out by Chinese social media users after the episode – which showed the map for 19 seconds – aired on Wednesday.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said complaints had been made that the episode used a map that left off the self-ruled island of Taiwan and southern Hainan, and incorrectly represented the India-Tibet border, the South China Sea and the Kashmir region.

The ministry said it would look into the broadcast of the “problematic” map, without elaborating.

It appeared in a scene about a video game tournament, with mainland China coloured blue, while Taiwan and Hainan were not – indicating they were not part of the country.

The show centres on the blossoming relationship between a singer, played by Yang Zi (left) and a professional e-sports gamer, Li Xian. Photo: Weibo

Based on the novel Stewed Squid with Honey by Mo Bao Fei Bao, the 41-part TV series centres on the blossoming relationship between a singer and a professional e-sports gamer and has been a smash hit in China this summer. It has been streamed more than 9.6 million times and has generated a huge online buzz since it began airing last month.

After the controversy erupted, streaming platforms including iQiyi and Tencent reportedly edited the scene, replacing the map with a new version that shows the islands as part of China. But the scene has been cut entirely from YouTube, which is blocked on mainland China.

The producer of the show, Croton Media, declined to comment.

It comes amid escalating tensions between mainland China and Taiwan, over which Beijing claims sovereignty. Taiwan was caught off guard last week when Beijing announced it would bar citizens from 47 mainland cities from travelling to the self-ruled island as individual tourists.

The Taiwan Affairs Office under Beijing’s State Council said it was due to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s “consistent efforts to push Taiwanese independence activities and incite hostility to the mainland”.

Based on the novel Stewed Squid with Honey by Mo Bao Fei Bao, the show has been a smash hit in China this summer. Photo: Weibo

On Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, users have slammed the television show’s producers and actors under a hashtag that translates to “Go Go Squid! supports Taiwan independence”.

“I hope the authorities will just ban this drama entirely,” one post read. “The pro-Taiwan independence director has tried so hard to promote its separation from China.”

Others defended the actors, laying blame on the post-production team.

Qu Youning, a Taiwanese director who said he was involved in producing the series, told state-run tabloid Global Times on Thursday he did not know about the map until the episode aired, and that he would not do such a “boring” and “narrow-minded” thing.

“My attitude on cross-strait relations is [that I support] the principle of one China, and I hope the two sides can communicate with love,” said Qu, adding that he was “sad” about the issue.

The stars of the show, Li Xian and Yang Zi, also expressed their patriotism in Weibo posts after the controversy erupted. With more than 67 million Weibo followers between them, both actors said that “not even a bit can be left behind in China” – a phrase commonly used by celebrities on social media to express their patriotism for the country.

Beijing considers Taiwan a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. It has suspended official exchanges with the island since 2016, when Tsai Ing-wen, of the independence-leaning DPP, became president and refused to accept the one-China principle as the basis for handling cross-strait ties.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: TV show used map that left off Taiwan
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