Xi Dada Offers Me 100 Million Rmb, but I Still Don't Want to Go

Taiwan Presidential Office. (Chen Bozhou / Dajiyuan)

[People News] On July 26, Taiwan held its first wave of major recall elections, but the attempt to recall 24 legislators was unsuccessful. That evening, Taiwanese singer Chen Sheng held a concert titled '2025 New Paradise Summer Banquet: Pork Fat Mixed Rice' in Ximen, Taipei. During the concert, Chen Sheng remarked that even if Xi Jinping were to give him 100 million RMB, he would not want to pursue opportunities in mainland China.

According to the United Daily News, fans at the concert enjoyed delicious food while listening to Chen Sheng perform, and he made toasts at each table. Despite the failure of the major recall election that day, the atmosphere remained vibrant. Chen Sheng stated, 'I’m being honest with you; with how I feel right now, even if Xi Dada offers me 100 million RMB, I still don’t want to go.' The audience responded with applause and cheers.

Chen Sheng has candidly expressed, 'I have effectively shut out the Chinese market. The most arrogant thing about me is that I have made the Taiwanese market quite substantial. I don’t need money, so you can’t do anything to me; the domestic demand in Taiwan is sufficient.'

At the end of last year, Chen Sheng appeared on Hu Gua's YouTube program 'Next Guest' and shared the story of his past ban by Beijing. Back when he released his second and third albums, his band 'New Treasure Island Kangle Band' was invited to perform at the Free Tibet concert. He was delighted to accept the invitation after seeing other internationally renowned bands participating. Since then, all of Chen Sheng's applications for performances in China have been rejected.

Over the years, Chen Sheng has frequently found himself in hot water due to his outspoken and rebellious political views and actions.

In 2014, Chen Sheng (Chén Shēng) gave an interview to Taiwanese media, where he shared his perspectives on Taiwan's politics and cross-strait relations.

When asked, "What do you think the people of Taipei need?" Chen Sheng responded, "Can we live our lives without stress?"

Chen Sheng expressed, "I truly believe we shouldn't be making so much money." He noted that the wealthiest periods in Taiwan's history might have been abnormal, suggesting that the current situation could be more normal, as Taiwan is already better off than half of the world's population. "Mainland tourists really shouldn't come anymore; do we really have to sacrifice our quality of life? Some argue that not signing the trade agreement will lead to marginalization. I want to ask, aren't we already marginalised enough? The trade agreement helps us clarify our roles. Although I haven't publicly voiced my opinion, if you ask me, I will tell you that I oppose the trade agreement."

"I have many friends from the mainland, and I like them very much, but I often tell them, when you can close the door when you go to the bathroom, then I will discuss unification with you," Chen Sheng remarked.

While most Taiwanese politicians focus on economic development as their primary political agenda, Chen Sheng stated, "The three words I dislike the most are 'economic competition.' We should be competing to survive, using our current position to create the life that Taiwanese people cherish the most. This approach is not solely about economic competition."

Later, Ma Xiaoguang (Mǎ Xiǎoguāng) from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council addressed Chen Sheng's comments during a regular press conference. Ma Xiaoguang stated, "Such extreme remarks do not represent the views of the majority of the Taiwanese people and will not be accepted by the majority of the mainland population."

67-year-old Chen Sheng (Chén Shēng) rose to fame in the 1990s with hits like 'Leave the Sadness to Yourself' and 'A Night in Beijing,' gaining popularity across the Taiwan Strait and in three regions. However, his concerts in China remain quite rare.

Available records indicate that he has held personal concerts in Guangzhou, Qingdao, and Shanghai, with the only performance in Shanghai taking place in a small bar venue.

In 2017, Chen Sheng's (Chén Shēng) personal page on NetEase Cloud Music unexpectedly vanished. Furthermore, his Baidu Tieba was also shut down. Alongside Chen Sheng, other artists such as Xu Ruoxuan (Xú Ruòxuān), Huang Yaoming (Huáng Yàomíng), and Da Lantang (L.M.F) were similarly 'removed.' Some netizens disclosed that major music platforms were instructed to delete all songs by these artists by January 9. Additionally, the CEO and founder of Xiami Music appeared to conduct a 'farewell ceremony' for Chen Sheng on Weibo.
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