A mainland Chinese film, “The Belief,” depicting a historical victory over Taiwan is facing unexpected criticism from within China. The film portrays the Qing dynasty's conquest of Taiwan in 1683, aiming to showcase a narrative of eventual reunification. However, nationalistic voices are objecting to the portrayal of events, finding it unfavorable or insufficiently assertive. This backlash throws the film’s future into doubt despite its intended message of cross-strait unity. The controversy centers around the Battle of Penghu and the Kingdom of Tungning’s allegiance to the Ming Dynasty. The film’s struggles highlight the complexities of navigating sensitive political topics and nationalistic sentiment in mainland China. This unexpected opposition underscores the difficulties in promoting a specific narrative regarding Taiwan.