Singer: China’s censorship underlines the value of Taiwan

Taiwanese singer and activist Panai Kusui said on Saturday that China’s censorship of her remarks about the Tiananmen Square massacre at the Golden Melody Awards underscored the importance of Taiwan’s freedom.

Beijing’s “actions once again underscore Taiwan’s precious freedom,” Panai’s agent quoted the singer as saying after the ceremony.

“The value of freedom is palpable at this moment,” Panai said. “I hope everyone will appreciate what we have.”

The local singer won the award for Best Taiwanese Album for Ia-Po (English).

In her acceptance speech, she urged people not to forget China’s crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing in 1989, which killed hundreds, possibly more than 1,000 people.

Panai noted that the awards ceremony celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, saying that this year “was also the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incidents. Let us not forget that.”

Her statements, works and discussions about her were removed from the Internet in China shortly after the event.

President William Lai (賴清德) referred to Panai’s comments and praised the freedom that artists enjoy in Taiwan.

“Music is life, and music is also unlimited freedom. We will continue to protect and defend the creative freedom of all musicians,” he wrote on Facebook.

Culture Minister Lee Yuan (李遠) thanked Panai on Facebook for demonstrating confidence and freedom with her music.

Despite several high-profile nominations, including Xu Jun (許鈞), who won Best Composer, no Chinese singers were present at this year’s awards ceremony.

Another Chinese singer, Jude Chiu (裘德), travelled to Taiwan but returned to China before the awards ceremony for health reasons.

Taiwanese indie rock band No Party For Cao Dong (草東沒有派對) emerged as the biggest winners at this year’s awards ceremony, winning some of the night’s top prizes, including Album of the Year, Best Mandarin Album and Best Band for their second album The log (English).

The quartet took the country’s music scene by storm in 2017 when they won Best New Artist, Best Band and Song of the Year awards.

Other grand prize winners included MC HotDog (姚中仁), who took home Best Male Mandarin Singer for his album. Disgusted artist (髒藝術家) and Shi Shi (孫盛希), who won the award for “Best Mandarin Singer” for her album. boomerang.

Justin Su (蘇明淵) was awarded “Best Taiwanese Singer” for his album The empty side of the heart (心內烏空), while Huang Fei (黃妃) was named Best Taiwanese Female Singer for the third time, this time for her album Eighteen martial arts (Chinese pronunciation embolism).

Chiu Shu-chan’s (邱淑蟬) Form of life (繭的形狀) won the award for Best Hakka Album, while Zoomie (陳彥竹) won the award for Best Hakka Female Singer for her album. Zhin Moi (English).

Usay Kawlu was awarded for her album “Best Female Indigenous Language Singer”. Harateng no Pangcah (The Beauty of Pangcah) (English).

Makav, a member of the Bunun community, was awarded Best New Artist for her album Treasure (寶藏), which was also awarded as the best album in an indigenous language.

Taiwanese indie rock band Accusefive (告五人) won Song of the Year for We will be fine (又到天黑) from last year’s album of the same name.

Additional reporting from Reuters