Harmony or Hegemony? PLA's New Year Music Video Stirs Unification Sentiment for Taiwan
As the Lunar New Year celebrations commence, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command has released a potent music video titled "Winning by Returning Home" (“回家才会赢”), which has swiftly ignited conversations on social media platforms, particularly Weibo. The video, which features a mix of military exercises and New Year festivities, is not just a spectacle of China's military prowess but also delivers a clear message regarding Taiwan's place in China's future.
7 February 2024
The video weaves a narrative that is both a call for unity and a display of military strength, set against the background of the iconic song “爱拼才会赢” which, for years, has resonated on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The lyrics of the new music video, however, are laced with symbolism and a firm, unambiguous political statement: "A family incomplete, a regret we can't dismiss; A nation not whole, is a memory forever cherished."
The imagery is evocative and deliberate. Soldiers trudge through mud with their rifles as the lyrics hint at the determination and valor required of "heavenly troops." The nation is personified as the Matsu goddess, calming the waves and symbolizing the unity and stability that the PLA Eastern Theatre Command suggests Taiwan would enjoy under reunification with the mainland. This intertwining of patriotic sentiments with religious iconography is a strategic move to tap into the cultural reverence for the Matsu goddess among Taiwanese.
The core message of the video is encapsulated with the lines: "The family is the smallest country; a country is millions of families. To strive is to win—harmony in the family; to strive is to win—a complete nation." This narrative not only frames unification as a familial matter but also one of national importance. It is a sentiment echoed across several reactions from Chinese netizens, who post: "A family round, willing to spare no one; a country round, cannot be less." The emphasis on unity and completeness is clear and is further reinforced as netizens anticipate a stable country and a flourishing family with Taiwan's return.
Reaction from the Weibo community to the launch of this music video suggests a strong support for the notion of a unified China, including Taiwan. One user, reflecting the sentiments of many others, wrote, “The motherland must be unified, and Taiwan must return!” Another highlighted the inevitability of unification: "An incomplete nation is a constant memory; unification is destiny and Taiwan shall return." These comments underscore a widespread public opinion on the mainland in favor of reunification with Taiwan.
Additionally, the reactions also hint at a readiness for action, as seen in comments like, “When it’s time to make a move, one should do so,” pointing to a public endorsement of decisive measures to achieve the goal of unification. There’s an undercurrent of impatience in some of the comments, such as “Don’t just talk, act!” and “Return, return,” implying that some believe that more concrete steps should be taken towards reclaiming Taiwan.
The PLA Eastern Theatre Command has been strategic in releasing the video just as the New Year begins, a time traditionally associated with families coming together. The metaphor of the nation as a large family and Taiwan as a prodigal member is powerful and is designed to tap into the emotional ties of the festival. The release during the festive period may be seen as an attempt to soften the military message with a layer of cultural and societal values.
The "Winning by Returning Home" music video is more than an artistic endeavor; it's a public relations tool aiming to shape the narrative around Taiwan and China's territorial claims. This approach is not new; it's part of a broader strategy that blends soft power messaging with displays of military capability, an approach that seeks to influence both domestic and international audiences.
The use of social media for such releases is significant, as it not only allows for rapid spread of the message but also provides a platform for gauging public sentiment. The reactions on Weibo demonstrate that the video has struck a chord with the Chinese audience, who largely express nationalistic pride and aspirations for a unified China.
While the music video serves as a vivid reminder of China's stance on Taiwan and its unification agenda, it also raises questions about the complexities of identity, culture, and sovereignty that are central to the Taiwan issue. As individuals on both sides of the strait celebrate the Lunar New Year, the notion of what it means to be a family, both in the intimate and nationalistic sense, comes to the fore, reflecting the deep-rooted and emotionally charged nature of cross-strait relations.