Mayday: China denies pressuring Taiwan rock stars under lip-sync probe

China has refuted media allegations that its probe into the supposed lip-syncing by renowned Taiwanese rock band, Mayday, is politically driven. The allegations suggested that Beijing requested Mayday to voice pro-China sentiments, and when the band declined, the investigation was initiated as a means of exerting pressure on them. The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing has categorically dismissed these allegations as baseless and a total fabrication. Taiwan has also expressed its intent to delve into these claims.

Mayday, celebrated for their 'positive rock music', are among the most successful Taiwanese acts in mainland China. The National Radio and Television Administration in China reportedly asked Mayday to publicly endorse Beijing's stance that self-governed Taiwan is a part of China. This was reported by Reuters news agency on Thursday, citing an internal Taiwan security note as the source. China perceives Taiwan as a renegade province that will eventually fall under Beijing's control, while Taiwan views itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically elected leaders.

Reports suggested that Beijing intended to leverage Mayday's influence to sway voters, particularly the youth, in the run-up to Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections on 13 January. The requests for Mayday to issue statements supporting Beijing persisted for several months and reportedly coincided with the commencement of the band's tour of China in May. This was reported by CNN, citing a recent briefing on Taiwan's security affairs as the source. Officials at the security briefing stated that when Mayday did not comply with the requests, Chinese authorities collaborated with state media to stir up discussion of Mayday's alleged lip-syncing and threatened the band with a penalty.