Popular Chinese actor Zhang Linghe appears at Strait Forum, expert says Beijing gains political benefits through careful celebrity selection

Chinese actor Zhang Linghe (張凌赫) urged Taiwanese to visit China at the 18th Strait Forum in Xiamen on June 13, in a move a Taiwanese media scholar described as politically advantageous for Beijing.

Zhang’s remarks

Using the Chinese character "跨" (crossing) as the theme of his speech, Zhang spoke about his own experience crossing professional boundaries, China's transformation, and invited people in Taiwan to "cross the Strait" and visit mainland China.

"The distance across the Strait cannot stop compatriots from visiting and drawing closer to one another," Zhang said.

He also noted that many friends in Taiwan had invited him to visit the island. 

In response, he said he looked forward to greater and deeper cooperation across the Taiwan Strait in film, music, and culture, adding that he hoped young people on both sides would have more opportunities for exchanges, interaction, and integration.

Zhang rose to popularity across Asia through the historical drama "Pursuit of Jade," earning a large fan base in Taiwan.

The Strait Forum is a large-scale annual cross-strait platform held in China's Fujian Province since 2009. Organized by Chinese authorities, it is presented as a venue for promoting people-to-people, cultural, and economic exchanges between Taiwan and mainland China.

Strategic casting

Professor Tu Sheng-tsung (杜聖聰), chair of the Department of Radio and Television at Ming Chuan University, told TCN that Beijing's selection of Zhang was far from accidental and was a highly precise choice that delivered political benefits.

"Zhang is already popular in Taiwan," Tu said. "The popularity of 'Pursuit of Jade' was not manufactured by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Taiwanese audiences chose to watch it on their own."

According to Tu, choosing a celebrity already embraced by Taiwanese audiences is far more effective than promoting an unfamiliar figure. 

"Taiwanese viewers already have an emotional connection with him. When he steps forward to deliver a message, their psychological defenses are naturally lower," he said.

Zhang’s image

Tu added that Zhang's youthful and clean-cut public image was also an important factor.

"He carries little political baggage and doesn't come across like an official who immediately appears to be speaking on behalf of the Party," Tu said. 

"Dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit, he looked more like a tasteful young celebrity than a propaganda figure. The visual presentation itself was carefully designed," Tu added.

Soft tone

Tu also argued that the moderate tone of Zhang's remarks made it difficult for many Taiwanese fans to openly reject his message.

During the speech, Zhang used phrases such as "the power of culture can connect hearts across the Strait" and "people on both sides share the same roots and origins." According to Tu, such language sounds non-confrontational and therefore resonates more easily with audiences.

"When fans hear these messages, many experience an internal conflict: 'I admire him, but what he's saying...'" Tu said.

He noted that some Taiwanese fans had publicly commented, 'I really like him, but I still have a clear head.' The fact that fans felt compelled to articulate such a distinction, Tu argued, suggests that Zhang's message had already entered their thinking.

"That alone indicates the operation has been successful," Tu said.

Low-risk political benefits

Tu concluded that Zhang's appearance generated political effects while carrying little risk.

"Even if people in Taiwan criticize him for being used in united front work, he can simply say he was participating in cultural exchanges," Tu said. 

"And even if many people reject the message, the discussion and attention have already been generated. It is an operation with almost no risk of failure," Tu added.