In what appears to be a reversal in history, a balloon with the messages “Loyalty to the Party…” drifted across the strait to Taiwan. Some older netizens recalled receiving similar balloons from Taiwan during the Cold War that contained propaganda along with food and other goodies, while others poked fun at the messages along with the balloon as a possible secret weapon.
From NetEase:
This airborne balloon hung with the [banner] written in simplified characters “Loyalty to the party, loyalty to the people…”, drifted and landed in Yanpu village in Pingtung County, it was a novel sight for residents.
According to Taiwan’s United Daily News, a big balloon manufactured by a Lantern production company in Hunan, drifted to Yanpu village in Bingdong County, the balloon was written with simplified characters: “Loyalty to the Party, Loyalty to the people,” the crowds curiously observed this balloon that flew thousands of kilometers to “defect” to Taiwan.
“Wow! Such a big balloon, even hung with simplified characters…”, yesterday morning at around 6am, a care-taker at Taishiqi Company discovered a large red balloon suspended on top of the factory building, the Xinwei Police Department after receiving the news, Department chief Lin Bofan asked in the local Bureau to send construction vehicles, and only after strenuous effort did they pull the balloon down.
On the balloon was the marking of a manufacturing company in Zhenjiang, Hunan, with the serial number as No. 52 Lantern balloon, under the balloon hung a red banner, with the big simplified characters “Loyalty to the Party, Loyalty to the people, Loyalty to one’s enterprise, and Loyalty to oneself,” that drifted with the balloon for thousands of kilometers, yet still remained intact.
Mainland manufacture [representative] Liang Jinhua after hearing about the balloon flying across the strait to Taiwan was not surprised, “this is not the first time it flew to Taiwan,” the company sells many balloons, most used during the holidays; I predict it was probably bought by a customer from Fujian, who didn’t properly secure [the balloon] causing it to float across the ocean.
Comments from NetEase:
网易山东网友:
When I was young, I often pick up propaganda leaflets and delicious candy from balloons that floated over from Taiwan.
网易广东深圳网友:
According to latest reports, enemy Taiwan agents changed the message on the balloon to traditional characters and sent it [drifting] back to the mainland.
网易山东济宁网友:
Those born in the 70′s all know that in the early 80′s in Shandong, [one] could find propaganda goods from Taiwan, like beef jerky, candy, even little scissors and things, it was finely crafted and delicate. At that time, our own manufactured daily items were old and ugly.
网易四川成都网友:
This society today, still thinking about loyalty to the Party, I’m only loyal to one person and that is myself.
网易重庆渝中网友:
I’m only loyal to my old lady. [wife]
网易山东济南网友:
Yesterday I saw a balloon that drifted from Taiwan, on it was written “very foolish, very naive“.
网易美国网友:
Always hanging this type of message is not good toward the unification of Taiwan.
网易湖北宜昌网友:
Disgusting mainlanders is not enough; they have to float across the ocean to disgust people on the Treasure Island [Taiwan].
网易福建厦门网友:
When I was young, our area frequently had helium balloons floating from Taiwan, containing many electronics, watches, propaganda leaflets, etc. Now it has changed to floating from the mainland to Taiwan.
网易广东深圳网友:
In reality this is the advanced secret weapon to counter the patriot missile system.
网易火星网友:
I want to float myself over there!!! Haha!!!
网易辽宁大连网友:
Could it be an experimental weapon, or to test Taiwan’s missile defense system?
网易浙江杭州网友:
The important thing is that Taiwanese people are not curious about the balloon, but the words written on it, what is the point of loyalty to the Party? Loyalty should come from one’s heart!
网易江苏南京网友:
In the 21st century today, two grown men are still playing children’s games. Real creative.
Above: Propaganda balloons from Taiwan during the Cold War
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