Hollywood superstar and martial arts legend Jackie Chan who is considered the most recognizable actor from Asia has expressed his admiration for and desire to join the Chinese Communist Party, Global Times reported.
Chan spent the majority of his film career in Hong Kong which always enjoyed democracy now wants membership at a symposium organised by the China Film Association last Thursday in Beijing.
Chan is also the vice-chairman of the China Film Association, not only expressed his proud feeling of being Chinese but also showed his admaration for the CPC.
“I can see the greatness of the CPC, and it will deliver what it says, and what it promises in less than 100 years, but only a few decades,” Chan said.
“I also envy that you are Communist Party members, I think the Communist Party is just great, what the Communist Party says, what they promised, will always be delivered within a few decades,” he said.
“I want to be a Communist Party member, thank you,” he added, smiling, to thunderous clapping.
In China, cinema has always been used for propaganda and as part of the Communist Party’s centennial celebrations theaters throughout China have been instructed to screen at least two propaganda films per week.
These have been described as movies that “sing the praises of…and eulogize the Party, the motherland, its people and its heroes.”
Chan said what impressed him the most was the resilience and spirits of the Eighth Route Army, the military force that, under the leadership of the Mao Tse Dong led CPC, fought the Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), and he was touched by the bravery of the soldiers.
Chan has been supporter of the CPC for years and served as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – an advisory body of professionals nominated by the party.
Chan, a native of Hong Kong all his life has been criticised for his pro-CCP views and attitudes and he also supported Beijing’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
In 2019, in an interview given to the state-owned television network CGTN, Chan called the Hong Kong protests, “sad and depressing” and said he hoped Hong Kong “can return to peace soon”.
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