A Country Defeated by a Woman Yan Chun Gou

On November 29, Ayumi Hamasaki and her team held a performance with no audience in attendance and shared footage from this &9;no-audience concert&9;. (Composite image)

[People News] A few days ago, Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki had her Shanghai concert forcibly canceled by the CCP authorities. This was an unmistakable state action, and for her, it constituted “force majeure.” Originally Hamasaki could only swallow her anger, pack up, and return home. But unexpectedly, this female singer did something out of the ordinary: she stood before an empty concert venue and performed the entire program from beginning to end.

This was truly an unprecedented concert in human history, and Ayumi Hamasaki will be remembered in the annals of history because of it.

At my age, Hamasaki certainly isn’t my idol. When I first saw the news, I thought it was amusing and found this young woman interesting—treating an official ban as a joke. Thinking more deeply, I was impressed; there is profound wisdom in what she did. This young woman is anything but simple.

First, this was an assertion of her rights. She rented the venue and paid for it. The CCP has the power to prohibit audiences from entering, but it has no authority to forbid her from using the venue. As for singing to an empty hall—if she likes it, if she’s not afraid of the hard work—she has every right to do so, and on this point the CCP can do nothing.

Second, this was her gentle way of expressing her apology to her Chinese fans. Although the incident was not caused by her, she felt sorry for them, and she couldn’t think of a better way to express it. Ultimately, she chose to perform the full show in an empty hall to make up for her sense of indebtedness to her Chinese fans.

Third, this was her adherence to the spirit of contract. Reportedly, singers of her stature receive their full payment upon signing. Since the incident was not her fault, the organizers could not blame her. Still, she was a party to the contract and had an obligation to perform. By singing to an empty venue, there were no outstanding obligations on either side, and she could return home with a clear conscience.

Fourth, this was of course a powerful response to the CCP’s authoritarian tactics. The regime is strong and she cannot resist it directly. But through this approach, she expressed her protest in a subtle way, making it clear that she would not swallow its oppression. Instead, she ensured that the whole world would remember that the CCP uses such barbaric methods to deprive the Chinese people of their freedom.

Finally, this was a strategic reversal—turning passivity into initiative, transforming the insult and harm she suffered into a solid uppercut landing squarely on Xi Jinping’s face. Xi could only “swallow his own broken teeth,” unable to utter a word. In contrast, Ayumi Hamasaki simply brushed off her clothes, flicked her short hair, smiled gracefully, and walked away!

As an ancient Chinese saying goes, “With the great treat the small with benevolence; with the small treat the great with wisdom.” The strong should act with morality, while the weak should rely on intelligence. The CCP does not know benevolence, but Hamasaki showed it what intelligence truly means.

Chinese fans, through this unexpected act, received her heartfelt apology and also understood the condemnation hidden between her lines. They will appreciate her kindness and cleverness, as well as the care and goodwill she extended to the Chinese people.

Likewise, the CCP that issued the ban will feel the sharp pain of this “soft nail,” receiving her unspoken reproach and disdain. Meanwhile, public contempt and dissatisfaction toward the government will pour onto the CCP from all directions. The news will surely spread worldwide—from advanced democracies to upright developing nations. No normal society would approve of the CCP’s bullying. From now on, the CCP’s brutality will become common knowledge.

Therefore, if one says that this event allowed “mighty China” to be defeated by a Japanese woman, it’s not an exaggeration. Bad news travels fast; Xi Jinping’s dictatorship is further exposed, China’s national dignity is shattered, and the CCP is dragged onto the tribunal of human civilization.

Why was Ayumi Hamasaki able to come up with such a wise move when confronted with authoritarian oppression? This is undoubtedly related to her being Japanese, to Japan’s long tradition of moral values, and to Japan’s deep influence from advanced Western culture. Conversely, imagine a Chinese singer performing in Japan. If the Japanese government (hypothetically, since it would never happen) canceled the show, would this Chinese singer sing to an empty hall in defiance?

I believe it would be very unlikely. Chinese singers lack such courage and intelligence, and would most likely sneak away to avoid trouble. Japanese people face everything with seriousness, handle interpersonal matters with care and thoughtfulness, and stick to their personal beliefs and character. They do not act perfunctorily. Meaning, if this had happened to another Japanese singer, they would also insist on being true to themselves—the only difference being whether they would conceive of the idea of performing to an empty hall.

The CCP’s original intention was to use crude tactics to express displeasure at the Japanese government’s involvement in Taiwan affairs and to vent its pent-up resentment. But the Japanese government is the Japanese government; Ayumi Hamasaki is just a Japanese citizen. A citizen has no obligation to “carry the blame” for her government. The CCP had no reason to target her concert. But out of a narrow and dark “Chinese peasant mentality,” the CCP insisted on using this low-level trick to vent its nameless anger—proof of the deep-rooted flaws in its national character.

Unfortunately, this tactic once again backfired. The result? Hamasaki left unscathed, fully paid, having performed an empty-hall concert for her fans. She politely bid China farewell, leaving behind a tale for the ages, spreading around the world. What the CCP gained was the exact opposite of what it wanted—it tried to act tough but ended up humiliated; tried to bully but ended up embarrassed.

Even though I am no longer a Chinese citizen under CCP rule, as someone of Chinese descent, I still feel bone-deep shame. I feel I have lost all face because of my ancestral homeland. The CCP commits endless evils with no bottom line, constantly revealing its lack of civility and its estrangement from human progress. For Chinese people to cleanse this national disgrace, they must unite and overthrow the CCP’s brutal rule, so that the nation can regain an upright and honorable reputation.

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