'Battle of Penghu' Can't Air in China! Qing Army's Attack on Taiwan Becomes 'Barbarians Destroying Chinese Civilization,' Patriotic Blockbuster Accidentally Triggers Three Red Lines

A patriotic film intended to harvest box office success through nationalism has unexpectedly triggered the deeply buried historical nerve of 'Anti-Qing, Restore Ming.' Recently, according to multiple media reports, the historical war epic 'Battle of Penghu,' originally scheduled to premiere in Chinese theaters on July 25, has once again been pulled from release just six days before its debut. The film's official Weibo account ceased updates in mid-June and has yet to open pre-sales; producers only responded on Weibo that they 'have not received a cancellation notice.' Dubbed a 'National Key Film,' the movie has sparked public debate, becoming the latest case study in political and cultural observation. Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Soi Cheang, with Chinese stars Wang Xueqi portraying Shi Lang and Yi Yangqianxi as Emperor Kangxi, the film is based on the historical record of 1683, when Qing official Shi Lang led the Fujian Navy to defeat the Ming Zheng regime, leading to Taiwan's incorporation into the Qing Empire. Why has this seemingly 'politically correct' historical film faced obstacles in China? Analysts point out that although the film proudly waves the banners of 'what is isolated must return, what is divided must unite' and 'unifying Taiwan is unstoppable,' in practice, it has repeatedly been constrained by internal public opinion and ideological red lines. Experts believe this is not merely a scheduling adjustment, but a hidden tug-of-war between the official 'Great Unification' narrative and the民间 'Mourning for the Ming' sentiment. Authorities also currently do not wish to further inflame narratives around the 'military unification of Taiwan.' CNA News, Taiwan's state media, quoted Chinese political commentator Lu Qing, who observed that 'Battle of Penghu' may have stirred controversy due to excessive allusions to recent East Asian geopolitics: 'Under normal circumstances, the metaphors and references in this patriotic film might not rise to the level of political signals, but at this moment, such allusions face stricter political scrutiny because the film's political nature has intensified.' Lu Qing noted that 'Battle of Penghu' may have provoked controversy due to excessive references to recent East Asian political situations, such as the tense military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. 'Under normal circumstances, the metaphors and references in this patriotic film might not rise to the level of political signals, but at this moment, such allusions face stricter political scrutiny because the film's political nature has intensified.' The Sensitive Nerve of 'Anti-Qing, Restore Ming' Many commentators suggest the film's main pitfall stems from a popular民间 historical view in recent years—the 'Mourning for the Ming' trend. 'Mourning for the Ming' refers to a sentiment on Chinese internet platforms that sympathizes with the Ming Dynasty and criticizes the Qing Dynasty. According to earlier BBC Chinese reports, this trend originated from a video by a Chinese online blogger last year, claiming that the Chinese classic 'Dream of the Red Chamber' is actually an 'Anti-Qing, Restore Ming' work. This theory unexpectedly sparked widespread imitation, with numerous posts,民间 historians, and influencers beginning to attribute China's modern backwardness and foreign humiliations entirely to the Qing Dynasty. Some even claimed that the 'Man-Han Imperial Feast' symbolizes Manchus eating Han people, leading to online attacks against Manchu celebrities like Wu Jing and Guan Xiaotong. Amid this trend, viewing Qing general Shi Lang as a 'Han traitor' or 'defector' has become widespread. Behind this 'Mourning for the Ming' trend lies academic debate among Chinese historians over the '1644 Historical View.' In fact, according to earlier BBC Chinese analysis, this emerging '1644 Historical View' can be traced back to intellectuals during the Republic of China era who sought the roots of China's decline in the Ming-Qing transition, ultimately pinpointing the Qing army's entry into the pass in 1644 as the watershed moment when China began to fall behind. This 'Mourning for the Ming' trend has also crossed the Taiwan Strait. Wu Danru, a well-known Taiwanese writer pursuing a history PhD in China, launched the podcast 'This Heart Should Be Like Wang Yangming,' defending the Ming philosopher Wang Yangming, who was later marginalized. Wang Feixian, a Taiwanese scholar and associate professor of history and East Asian studies at Indiana University, analyzed for BBC Chinese that the resurgence of 'Anti-Qing, Restore Ming' discourse reflects intense public anxiety and unease. Wang explained that China's recent hardline stance toward Japan and its tariff war with the United States clash with Beijing's earlier vision of a majestic great power—people realize that despite China being a global competition winner under the 'unified world' narrative, it has not received the expected international respect. Professor Wang said that in this context, the '1644 Historical View' has entered the public consciousness, with today's challenges being blamed on the Qing Dynasty, despite vastly different circumstances. However, this trend has raised alarms within Chinese authorities. The Communist Party's propaganda department issued warnings that historical narratives excluding the Manchu from China stem from 'malicious intentions' of external forces, as such 'Anti-Qing' sentiments clearly conflict with the official narratives of 'Chinese National Community' and 'unified multi-ethnic nation.' These unofficially encouraged 'Anti-Qing, Restore Ming' discourses have unexpectedly resurfaced in 'Battle of Penghu,' a film that proclaims 'unifying Taiwan.' Some Chinese netizens asked: if glorifying the Qing army's attack on Taiwan, why not make a film about 'Wu Sangui Inviting Qing Troops into the Pass'? They view the Ming Zheng regime as the last stronghold of Han 'Chinese orthodoxy' and interpret the Qing army's attack as 'barbarians destroying the final bastion of Han civilization.' Comprehensive analysis suggests that Douban closing comment sections and social platforms censoring massive negative speech reflect this internal tension. Historian Xu Quan, commenting on CNA News, noted that in fact, the 2001 Chinese TV series 'The Kangxi Empire' had positively portrayed Shi Lang, but at that time, the 'Mourning for the Ming' trend had not yet emerged, and audiences still found such historical dramas refreshing. 'Times have changed,' he said. Xu also believes that in mainland China, many people see Shi Lang's campaign as targeting the 'Southern Ming' or 'Ming Zheng,' the last remnant of the Ming Dynasty and the 'authentic Chinese civilization,' which is why many netizens resent the film's narrative. The public believes that glorifying this film would be equivalent to viewing Ming traitor Wu Sangui as a positive historical figure, or even viewing Qin Hui, who framed Yue Fei, as a positive figure—something the people cannot accept. The Entanglement of Film and History In recent years, 'promoting unification' themes have never been absent from Chinese影视 works. From TV dramas to films, authorities continuously reinforce the message that 'Taiwan's return is inevitable' through historical narratives, with artists from across the strait occasionally participating, reposting, or promoting messages about China's unification or military exercises. However, current signs suggest that for this blockbuster, China's considerations for managing internal risks currently outweigh the need to send external signals. Therefore, whether this film ultimately releases quietly, undergoes major revisions, or is indefinitely shelved, this controversy has already proven—history is never just history, but a battlefield of realpolitik. The 'Anti-Qing, Restore Ming' nerve has been struck once again. Soi Cheang, a director long active in mainland China and who returned to Hong Kong last year to direct the box office hit 'Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In,' becoming a favorite in both regions, emphasized last year upon wrapping production that the crew recreated 50 ancient warships, enduring extreme heat and typhoons, 'getting wind when they needed wind, rain when they needed rain,' highlighting the immense effort to achieve historical authenticity. Yet, from the high-profile trailer release in October 2025, withdrawal from the Lunar New Year slot in February 2026, re-scheduling to summer in May, to now another cancellation in July, the journey has been as stormy as the Taiwan Strait that Shi Lang once faced.