Is Xi Jinping in No Rush for Unification? Blockbuster 'Battle of Penghu' Reportedly Pulled Over Missing 'Dragon Badge,' July 25 Release Cancelled?

The Chinese mainland's annual 'military unification' blockbuster film 'Battle of Penghu,' originally scheduled for release on July 25 across mainland theaters, recently sparked rumors of cancellation after reportedly failing to secure the so-called 'Dragon Badge'—the public screening permit issued by China's National Film Administration. However, starting the evening of July 20, theater chains across mainland China began promoting the film via their WeChat official accounts, still emphasizing that the release date remains unchanged, plunging the entire incident into a state of uncertainty.

'Battle of Penghu' carries strong pro-unification overtones. The film is based on the 1683 (Qing Kangxi 22nd year) historical event in which Emperor Kangxi ordered Shi Lang to lead the Fujian Navy in pacifying Taiwan, depicting Shi Lang's decisive victory over the Ming Zheng navy at Penghu, ultimately achieving Taiwan's unification. Both the production team and official media have directly linked this historical narrative to the current cross-strait situation, with the trailer emphasizing the message of 'using force to stop war, achieving peaceful unification.'

The film is directed by Hong Kong director Dante Lam, known for 'Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons' and 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In.' Veteran actor Wang Xueqi portrays the 63-year-old Shi Lang, while Yi Yangqianxi, a member of the mainland Chinese idol group TFBOYS, plays Emperor Kangxi.

'Battle of Penghu' officially began filming in June 2024 and wrapped production by the end of December 2024, undergoing a total of six months of high-intensity shooting. On October 25, 2025—the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession—China's state broadcaster CCTV released the 'Battle of Penghu' trailer, sparking discussions about using film to promote unification.

The film received official media backing from CCTV at the start of production. (Screenshot from CCTV)

Multiple delays and sudden cancellation over missing 'Dragon Badge'

'Battle of Penghu' was initially planned for a 2026 Spring Festival release but had already been delayed once, rescheduled for a summer release. Then, just before the July 25 premiere, news broke that 'Battle of Penghu' had been pulled from release.

According to the 'Sing Tao Headline,' the film failed to obtain the 'Dragon Badge' and was deemed 'stillborn' due to politically sensitive slogans in its promotional campaign. The report noted that the film's official Weibo account had stopped updating since mid-June and had not opened pre-sales, indicating highly unusual behavior.

The WeChat public account 'Aoguang Guoman' directly stated that 'Battle of Penghu' had been temporarily pulled from release with the production team's consent, with a new release date to be announced later.

On the National Film Administration's official website, 'Battle of Penghu' only shows approval for production, with no further approval for public screening. (Screenshot from the National Film Administration website)

Will it release on July 25?

However, 'Aoguang Guoman' later hid its post about the film's cancellation, and the account is not an official government channel but a private one. Meanwhile, major mainland theaters began collectively promoting the film from the evening of July 20, announcing that 'Battle of Penghu' would still release as scheduled on July 25, seemingly attempting to dispel cancellation rumors through coordinated messaging.

According to a report by mainland media 'Caiwen,' when contacted directly, the film's production company stated it had not received any notice of cancellation.

Whether 'Battle of Penghu' will indeed release on July 25 remains uncertain and awaits further observation.