China has been suppressing Taiwanese artists from showing any kind of dissent or using the medium to express their political views amid the kind of geo-political tussle both countries are locked in.

Taiwan Pop artists are creating songs that resonates with their country’s political ideology, showcasing resistance, and standing for a generation that refuses to be silenced. The selfruled island nation is fighting to assert its independence and a new wave of Taiwanese identity is emerging through music.

“There are more artists of same vision of Taiwanese identity. And also, more artists dare to speak out,” says Taiwanese pop artist Jay Chou.

Despite the political atmosphere many Taiwanese artists are trying to tap into China’s vast market only to face fierce backlash back home. The amount of money Taiwanese artists were able to make in China was far and beyond they could make in Taiwan.

In this cultural awakening Taiwan is not just reckoning the forces from abroad but also confronting its old troubled past. In early 2000s, Taiwanese artists such as Jay Chou, Cyndi Wang, and Jolin Tsai dominated Chinese pop-music market, and garnered attention in the Asian region competing with artists from Japan, South Korea and mainland China.

Cyndi Wang, dubbed the “Sweetheart Goddess” for her sugary voice, dominated Chinese music industrywhen nine of her songs from Early 2000s played in loop on Chinese streaming site QQ Music’s “rising hits” chart for about a week. According to Weibo post Wang’s fans threatened Mango TV, the station that was broadcasting a show playing her songs, against eliminating her from the show. “Her appearance on the variety show and the need for entertainment during pandemic lockdowns created the hit,” says Shao I-Te, former China representative of Channel V and general manager at EMI Music China.

“It’s a sense of nostalgia. Her fans who have the most purchasing power are now in their 30s, and artists like Cyndi Wang are like a symbol of their youth. With her, everyone starts to miss the good old days of the millennium era.”

Chinese music industry is currently in grip of a nostalgic trend that has again led to the reemergence of these artists from Taiwan and many new along with them.

But decade later in an era where tensions between China and Taiwan are soaring high Wang’s return has drawn online criticism in China. Chinese site Weibo is full of objectionable posts against Wang and other Taiwanese artists who verbally have never supported Dragon’s “One China” policy.

A total of 30 Taiwanese artists, including Chou and Tsai, were subjected to online trolling by Chinese netizens on Chinese online platform Weibo for not supporting the China’s ideology.

“It is not a taboo anymore to express your political views through music,” feels current sensation and Taiwanese hip hop artist Dwagie.

Dwagie is a new-generation artist from Taiwan who celebrates his homeland and challenges China’s use of force to control narrative against Taiwan. Dwagie has a strong political orientation and follows Taiwanese icons like Zheng Nanrong who set himself on fire for 100% freedom of speech in Taiwan.

“I want to make music that is meaningful,” he said.

He was motivated by protests that emerged during the Umbrella movement of Hong Kong and feels today Taiwanese artists are free to explore any thought through music. David Frasier, a music journalist and historian has seen Taiwan’s music revolution closely from 1990s to 2000s and so on.

He believes, DPP, the ruling party in Taiwan, is pro-democracy and would invest freely to promote Taiwan’s cultural identity through art and music. David feels music has redefined political scene and Taiwan. “When you go to one of those shows like there was politics on stage.

"I remember somebody burned a Chinese flag during the show. You will have people sloganeering and ridiculing China from the stage. Chthonic is a heavy metal band in Taiwan that is hard core pro-Taiwan identity and its organizer Freddy Lim went on to become an elected legislature,” David said while remembering his musical journey in Taiwan.

“During the elections you will hear these songs like anthems,” he adds.

Freddy Lim was galvanized by the 2014 Sunflower movement in Taiwan that surged in response of lack of transparency in a trade agreement with China, perceived by many as capitulation by then ruling Kuomintang (KMT). Motivated by these events Freddy co-founded the New Power Party and entered the political scene.

“During the Sunflower Movement many of my fans called me to join and I saw them playing my music. So, after the Sunflower Movement there are more artists who dare to speak out and support Taiwan identity,” he adds.

Today there are many artists in Taiwan who are walking a delicate line in tug-of-war between independence from China or allegiance.

Taiwanese artists have been seen to self-censor due to Chinese pressure.

On the other hand, these artists also fear backlash in Taiwan where fans threaten them by boycotting their shows.

Taiwanese musicians are aware that if they speak on an overtly sensitive political situation then China would ban them cutting down on a huge source of income. Taiwan is a tolerant democracy where artists from various spectrum love to make music that resonates with the feeling of the youth of the country. Hopeful and uncertain at the same time Taiwanese music is thriving now more than ever echoing the spirit of its people.