Taiwanese actor Xiao Ziyi has sparked a firestorm of controversy across social media after posting a video from China’s Hengdian World Studios in which he declared himself a citizen of “China’s Taiwan Province” and claimed he had “finally come home.”
The incident unfolded during a visit to the massive filming hub, where Xiao encountered the internet personality “Ru Hua.” In a video shared to Instagram, the actor appears visibly emotional as he shakes hands with Ru Hua and proclaims, “I am an actor from China’s Taiwan Province, I’m already home!”
As Ru Hua responded, “Baby, welcome home,” Xiao became increasingly animated, pumping his fist and shouting, “I’m already home, I’ve already come home! China’s Taiwan Province has come home, come home!” The clip concludes with the actor leaning in as if to kiss Ru Hua.
Social Media Backlash and Political Stance
The video quickly migrated to platforms like Threads, where it triggered an immediate and fierce reaction from Taiwanese netizens. Many users condemned the actor for his rhetoric, with some commenters telling him, “You can choose to be Chinese, but please do not drag us down,” and others suggesting, “If you don’t like Taiwan, you can get out yourself.”
Accompanying the video, Xiao doubled down on his political convictions in a written caption, stating, “No matter where I am, I only recognize one China! Taiwan will always be an inseparable part of China!! A straight tree does not fear a crooked shadow!”
Xiao Ziyi Fires Back at Critics
Unphased by the wave of criticism, Xiao took to Instagram once more to defend his position, attributing his beliefs to his upbringing. He claimed that his father taught him from a young age that “there is only one China,” asserting that his patriotic sentiments are lifelong rather than a recent development.
Addressing his detractors with a defiant tone, the actor told critics, “Spray if you want, I don’t care!” and questioned, “What’s wrong with being patriotic?”
Career Background
While born in Taiwan, Xiao Ziyi relocated to Shanghai during his middle school years to pursue his career in the mainland Chinese entertainment industry. He has appeared in several productions, including the second season of Elite in Trouble and the web series Senior Sister, I’m Not a Doctor Anymore, in addition to various commercials and micro-movies.
Despite his professional activity in the region, Xiao remains relatively unknown to audiences in Taiwan, leading some critics to dismiss his recent viral moment as a bid for attention.
