What could have been a well-meaning patriotic stance has turned into a shocking lesson for a 16-year-old who may not understand politics.

Chou Tzu-yu, a Taiwanese, is now embroiled in a controversy after she waved Taiwan’s official flag on a recent online broadcast, earning the ire of Chinese online users, who insinuated that she had a sinister pro-Taiwan independence agenda.Immediately after the backlash, the visibly weary teenager appeared in a Youtube video apologising for her actions. The video, published on Friday (Jan 15), has since been viewed nearly 3 million times.

Many Taiwanese have reacted unfavourably to the wrath of Chinese online users, with Taiwan’s presidential candidates wading into the row, defending the young K-pop starlet.

Online users in Taiwan said that Chou’s apology was produced under immense pressure, and it was tantamount to bullying and intimidation by China.