A Chinese state-media-backed blockbuster that draws on a 17th-century naval campaign against Taiwan — and frames it as a historical blueprint for modern unification — may not reach mainland theaters on its July 25 premiere date, after reports emerged that the film has yet to secure mandatory regulatory approval.
The film, *Battle of Penghu* (澎湖海戰), had been positioned as a marquee summer release. As of July 21, however, neither ticket presales had been launched nor had the production obtained the theatrical screening license known as the "Dragon Seal" (龍標) — the public release permit issued by China's National Film Administration — leaving the premiere in an unusual state of limbo.
The film draws on the 1683 Battle of Penghu, in which Qing Admiral Shi Lang crushed naval forces belonging to the Kingdom of Tungning — the Ming loyalist government that then controlled Taiwan — bringing the island under Qing rule. The battle was decisive: Shi's fleet of 238 ships and over 21,000 men overwhelmed a comparable Tungning force at Magong Bay, killing an estimated 12,000 troops and leading to the unconditional surrender of Tungning's last ruler.
The filmmakers and Chinese state media have explicitly linked this 343-year-old campaign to current cross-strait policy. Promotional trailers invoke language about stopping conflict through force in order to achieve peaceful unification — messaging that closely tracks Beijing's declared position on Taiwan's political status. CCTV premiered the trailer on October 25, 2025, the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession from Japanese colonial rule — a calculated date that immediately ignited debate over whether the film was functioning more as political instrument than entertainment.
The production assembled a high-profile cast: veteran actor Wang Xueqi portrays Shi Lang, while Yi Yang Qianxi — a member of the popular mainland boy group TFBOYS — plays the Kangxi Emperor. Hong Kong director Soi Cheang, known for *The Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven* and *Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In*, helmed the project. Principal photography ran from June through December 2024 and received early endorsement through state media coverage from CCTV.
China Film Administration Records Show No Screening Approval
The Dragon Seal is a mandatory public screening license; no film can legally be shown in mainland Chinese cinemas without it. A check of the National Film Administration's publicly accessible database shows that *Battle of Penghu* holds only a production filing — there is no corresponding entry approving the film for theatrical release.
Hong Kong outlet Star Island Headline reported that the production ran into trouble because its promotional slogans touched on politically sensitive cross-strait implications in ways that gave regulators pause. The film's official Weibo account ceased posting updates from mid-June, and presales were never opened — both atypical moves for a large-scale release just weeks from a scheduled premiere date.
A WeChat public account called "Aoguo Guoman" went further, stating that the production company had agreed to a temporary postponement with a new date to be announced. That post was subsequently deleted.
Cinemas Post Conflicting Signals as Release Date Approaches
Starting July 20, cinema chains across mainland China began posting content through their WeChat accounts affirming that the July 25 date remained unchanged. The coordinated tone of those messages struck observers as an effort to counter the withdrawal reports. Notably, "Aoguo Guoman" is a private account with no official government affiliation — a limitation that constrains how much weight its earlier announcement can carry.
When mainland financial outlet Caiwun directly contacted the film's production company, a representative said no notification of a cancellation or postponement had been received.
*Battle of Penghu* had already been delayed once — it was originally slated for the 2026 Spring Festival season before being moved to the summer holiday window. Whether the film ultimately opens on July 25 remains unresolved, with official cinema channels insisting the premiere stands while public records and independent reports point in the opposite direction. （Related： Beijing Watch | Tiffany Sues China Hygiene Brand as IP Wars Spread ｜ Latest ）
