Written by Tang Meng Kit.
Image credit: Old School IX: Teresa by williamnyk/ Flickr, license: CC BY-NC 2.0.
A Voice That Still Sings Across Borders
Some voices fade with time. Others, like Teresa Teng’s, only grow stronger. Decades after her passing, her songs still echo in the hearts of those divided by politics. Her voice crossed borders where diplomacy could not. It softened hearts hardened by ideology. It reminded people of something deeper than politics – love, longing and the quiet beauty of being human.
Taiwan’s political landscape is shifting. So is China’s. Nationalism is rising on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s democracy is vibrant but increasingly combative. Mass recall campaigns, street protests and deep political divisions dominate public discourse. In China, the government fuels a nationalistic wave, leaving little room for dissent or dialogue.
Teresa’s music, once banned in China, became a symbol of freedom. People listened in secret, drawn to a voice that felt personal. Her songs transcended ideology, proving that cultural identity does not have to be divided. In an era of growing hostility, her example offers an alternative – one where culture connects rather than separates.
If Taiwan and China continue down this path of intensifying nationalism, the gap between them will only widen. But Teresa’s music reminds us that even in times of division, harmony is still possible. When words fail, a song remains.
Harmony Over Strife: A Lesson from Teresa Teng in Times of Division
Taiwan has a strong democracy, but it is facing rising conflict. Political tensions are escalating, with recall efforts, ideological purges and heated debates dominating the scene. Although citizens are actively engaged, discussions have become combative. When politics becomes a struggle for survival, effective governance suffers.
History offers a warning. Taiwan was not China in the 1960s, but history shows that when political discourse turns into ideological combat, societies fracture. The Cultural Revolution serves as a reminder that when governance takes a backseat to purity tests, the cost is immense.
Teresa’s music was banned in China due to the government’s fear of its emphasis on personal expression over authority. However, fans found ways to access her work through underground networks, offering a glimpse into a world beyond strict ideologies. In Taiwan, despite its democracy, caution is necessary; excessive factionalism can be as dangerous as authoritarianism.
Teresa never protested in the streets. She never called for revolution. Yet, her love for Taiwan was undeniable. She sang for soldiers on distant islands, bringing warmth to the cold reality of military life. Her voice reminded them that Taiwan was not just a place to defend but a home to cherish.
The Soldiers Who Chose Music Over War
Music can stir emotions. Rarely does it change lives. But Teresa Teng’s songs did just that.
Teresa’s music did more than comfort soldiers on Taiwan’s frontlines. On the other side of the strait, it reached those who were supposed to be enemies. And for some, it changed everything.
Chinese Communist soldiers grew up in a state-controlled artistic environment where every song conveyed a political message, emphasising loyalty to the Party. They had never encountered music that simply celebrated love. The contrast was stark: revolutionary songs demanded strict loyalty, while Teresa’s soothing voice expressed themes of longing, the hope of a loved one’s return and peaceful nights under the moon; all these offered a more relatable and human experience.
Teresa Teng’s music had a notable impact on defection, exemplified by Chinese pilot Wu Ronggen, who defected to Taiwan in 1982 after being enchanted by her voice on the “Teresa Time” radio program. Teresa’s songs, along with other Taiwanese cultural influences, shaped the view among some Chinese soldiers and citizens of Taiwan as a place of warmth, freedom, and escape from government control. Despite being banned in mainland China, her music was highly coveted, with listeners seeking out smuggled cassette tapes for a glimpse into an alternative culture.
Soft power remains Taiwan’s most underutilised asset in cross-strait relations. If music could touch the hearts of those raised in an authoritarian system, it can still shape perceptions today.
China’s Rising Nationalism and Teng’s Silent Rebellion
Taiwan faces division. China faces something different. Its nationalism is not organic. It is engineered from the top down. For years, Beijing has fostered a nationalistic identity that equates patriotism with loyalty to the Communist Party. State-controlled media reinforces this message. Education teaches a single historical narrative. To challenge it is to challenge the Party itself. And yet, despite decades of control, Teresa Teng remains beloved in China. Her music, once banned, never truly disappeared. This silent reverence reveals something crucial. Culture can transcend political barriers in ways that propaganda cannot.
China’s nationalism thrives on an “us versus them” mentality. Teresa’s music challenges this. It reminds people that shared heritage does not have to mean enforced unity. Even as Beijing tightens its grip, her songs quietly suggest another way. One where identity is not dictated by the state but by the people themselves.
Today, Teresa’s music is no longer banned in China, but it remains a quiet symbol of an era when individual expression was restricted. Many young Chinese, discovering her songs through social media, view her as a voice from a time that felt more open more hopeful.
Culture as a Quiet Force
Critics argue that Teresa’s soft, sentimental approach is outdated. They say Taiwan faces real threats from China and needs a strong, assertive stance and not nostalgia for a singer’s love ballads.
But history tells a different story. Nationalism, when pushed too far, leads to internal fractures. While firm policies on Taiwan’s sovereignty are necessary, culture remains an equally powerful tool. Teresa’s music spread in China even when it was banned. That alone proves Taiwan’s identity can reach beyond politics.
Others claim that music and culture are secondary to real political action. Taiwan’s democracy, they argue, was built through protests, legal reforms and civic engagement, not sentimental ballads. But culture shapes consciousness. Before revolutions, before movements, before action, there is always a shift in how people see themselves.
Teresa’s music may not have written Taiwan’s laws, but it shaped how people felt about identity, freedom and home. And feelings shape history.
A Call for Balance
Taiwan’s future remains uncertain. One thing is clear: division cannot be the foundation of progress. Passion must be tempered with wisdom. National pride must not become a weapon.
Teresa was not a politician, yet her legacy carries a political message. She showed that identity does not have to be militant. It does not have to be forged in opposition. It can be rooted in culture, in connection, in a shared sense of belonging.
At a time when Taiwan and China define themselves by their differences, Teresa’s music offers a quiet reminder. Identity is not just about sovereignty. It is about the human connections that endure despite politics. In a world where rhetoric grows harsher, her voice still sings. Sometimes, the most enduring messages are not shouted. They are simply heard.
Tang Meng Kit is an aerospace engineer. He recently graduated from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. His research interests include cross-Straits relations, Taiwan politics, policy issues, and aerospace technology.