Chinese tv drama in hot water over map excluding taiwan (photo)

Despite steps being taken to change the map, some unhappy viewers have taken to social media to call for the television drama’s complete cancelation. “I hope the authorities will just ban

this drama entirely,” one Weibo comment using a “Go Go Squid!” hashtag read, reported SCMP. “The pro-Taiwan independence director has tried so hard to promote its separation from China.” The

“pro-Taiwan independence director” referenced is Qu Youning, who is involved in the series as a producer and who earlier this summer came under fire for allegedly liking social media posts

which defined the Chinese mainland and Taiwan as two separate sovereignties. However, when Qu spoke with Global Times, he did not appear to endorse Taiwan’s complete independence from China.

“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,” Qu told Global Times. He also noted that he was

“sad” about the lack of communication between the countries. Qu went on to assert that the map was an honest mistake, that he didn’t know about it until the episode aired and that he would

not be so “narrow-minded” as to approve the airing of such a thing. Nevertheless, his name has since been removed from the series’ production credits. Beijing-Taipei talks have been placed

on the backburner since the 2016 election of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan’s president. More recently, tensions between the two governments flared on July 31 after Beijing announced it would

suspend individual travel permits to Taiwan amid “current cross-strait relations.”