Taiwan’s first wave of legislative recalls took place on July 26th, with prominent lawyer and TV host Xie Zhenwu announcing in the political program “Facing the News” on July 25th that he would be live streaming the event the next day. Unexpectedly, he clarified a discussion regarding his age that had been circulating among netizens, causing laughter all around.
Previously, on the social media platform Threads, a netizen commented: “Xie Zhenwu is actually one year older than the (veteran media person) Shang Yifu, so every time Xie Zhenwu calls him a living fossil, it’s actually two fossils talking to each other.” This comment sparked a discussion.
In response to this, Xie Zhenwu, at the end of “Facing the News” on the 25th, announced that he would be live streaming the recall vote the next day. He then unexpectedly stated: “There is something I need to clarify with everyone here, I am not one year older than Shang Gong (referring to Shang Yifu), we are the same age, OK!” The audience burst into laughter at his remark.
Xie Zhenwu went on to say that in addition to Shang Yifu, the guests for the next day’s program will include veteran media personalities Chen Donghao, Huang Chuangxia, and three others who are part of the Friday lineup. He explained, “Why mention these three? Well, the four of us are the same age.” He joked that there would be “four living fossils” present the next day, teasing about their ages and causing further laughter.
Born in 1963, Xie Zhenwu will turn 62 this year, indicating that he, Shang Yifu, Chen Donghao, and Huang Chuangxia are all born in 1963. His “clarification” once again stirred discussion among netizens, with many commenting on how Xie Zhenwu appears younger than the others and jokingly saying that they should learn from him to drink ginseng tonic, while Shang Yifu was jokingly teased for looking much older than Xie Zhenwu. In a humorous response later in the afternoon, Shang Yifu joked on the show, “I drank the wrong thing, ended up with whisky.” The banter between peers was highly entertaining.
Xie Zhenwu’s “clarification” also sparked discussions on Threads, with users jokingly calling the show “Fossil Face to Face.” Legislative member Lin Junxian appeared on the platform to comment, “To look young, having a healthy liver is crucial”; while legislator Lai Ruilong humorously remarked, “Is this a marketing strategy for ginseng tonic? Looks like there may be a shortage soon.” The online community was filled with laughter and amusement.