Image reproduced from Taiwan News

Recently, Director Chen Zhihan shared his experiences during a trip to Shanghai, China, on social media, generating widespread discussion and interest. During his six-day, five-night free trip, he frequently praised the local infrastructure, expressing admiration for public toilets, high-speed rail, surveillance cameras, and roadside trees, which left him impressed. This led to a heated discussion among netizens from both Taiwan and China.

Throughout the journey, the director live-streamed his experiences, showcasing the sights of Shanghai. His comparisons attracted a barrage of reactions from netizens, with varying opinions from those in Taiwan, some supporting him while others criticized him, particularly commentator Wang Jiemin who expressed his dissatisfaction.

Wang took to social media to sarcastically remark, "Where did this country bumpkin come from?" He pointed out that many of the things the director praised already exist in Taipei, including trash bins and robot restaurants, making his appreciation seem exaggerated. Furthermore, he claimed that due to past conflicts with local gangs, the director is now afraid to walk the streets of Taipei.

Wang's sarcasm led to more voices joining the debate, with some questioning whether the director truly appreciated Shanghai's construction or if he was merely seeking attention. People began to reflect on how differing cultural standards of evaluation impact perspectives.

In addition to Wang, other netizens joined the debate, suggesting that even if the director's praise was sincere, it could be seen as uncomfortable in such a comparison. However, some argued that each location has its unique charm, and the director was simply expressing his feelings from a personal perspective, which should not be taken into debate.

This discussion, sparked by the director, reflects the subtle relationships and differences in views between Taiwan and China. As cross-strait exchanges deepen, such events prompt reflection on how to seek consensus in positions and viewpoints, rather than demeaning one another.