Actor John Cena, star of the upcoming F9, recently posted an apology video aimed at Chinese audiences for referring to Taiwan as a country, which conflicts with the Chinese government's One-China Principle.
Cena stated in the apology video (translated from Mandarin), "There's something I have to clarify. I've done a lot of interviews for F9. In one of the interviews, I made a mistake... There were a lot of interviews and information and I made a mistake." He went on to say, "I love and respect China and the Chinese people. I'm very very sorry about my mistake." The video has been circulating across the Chinese social media app, Weibo.
The controversy stems from an interview Cena provided to Taiwanese network TVBS to promote the newest instalment in the Fast and Furious franchise. The actor told the network (translated from Taiwanese Mandarin), "Taiwan is the first country to see F9." Cena's apology has garnered backlash from prominent figures across South East Asia, as well as vocal politicians who have challenged current relationships with the Chinese Communist Party.
In order to understand the issue, it is important to note that, while Taiwan is for all intents and purposes an independent nation, the current Chinese government, under the One-China Principle, does not recognise the island as a separate territory. The issue stems from a conflict that began in the late 1920s between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT), the latter of which went on to declare Taiwan the Republic of China after the Chinese Civil War, while the CCP established the People's Republic of China. Since that time, the CCP has expressed an intent to forcibly claim Taiwan.
Until recent years, the United States -- though indirectly supporting the democratic country of Taiwan -- has never explicitly referred to it as country, owing to a desire to maintain a civil relationship with China. This approach to the issue changed with the Biden Administration in response to heightened military aggression from China around the Taiwan Strait. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to Taiwan as a country in a public speech. Furthermore, the U.S. sent emissaries to Taiwan to discuss support and the tense situation surrounding the region. Additionally, in a largely symbolic move, President Biden congratulated President Tsai Ing-Wen upon her re-election and received her call when he was elected.
Directed by Justin Lin, F9 stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell and Charlize Theron. The film arrives in theaters June 25.
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