Moviegoers in the Taiwan region praise the live-action fantasy epic "Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force" and hope it paves the way for the release of animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" in the region soon.
"Gods II," released in Taiwan on Friday, is the second installment in a mythological fantasy trilogy. The sequel has grossed more than 1.2 billion yuan (about 170 million U.S. dollars) box office since its release in the Chinese mainland on Jan 29.
"I think the movie 'Creation of the Gods II' is a very interesting movie. It combines the elements of culture and mythology very well. And it's also very intense in feeling. So right now I'm just really looking forward (to) the release of 'NeZha 2'," said a moviegoer named Nelson Cheng.
"I have just seen the movie 'Creation of the Gods II' with my friend. After seeing the movie, I definitely recommend others to watch it too. It is mythology but has great cultural content. It tells of a wonderful story which is very persuasive. Therefore I honestly crave for watching 'Ne Zha 2'. Please let it be shown in Taiwan as well," moviegoer Huang Weiwei said.
"Ne Zha 2" draws inspiration from a mythological tale dating back to China's Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) period, showcasing cutting-edge special effects which demonstrate the creativity of China's movie industry and highlight the country's cultural charm.
It has secured its spot as the fifth highest-grossing film of all time globally on Saturday. The animated powerhouse has been released in various countries and regions including the U.S., Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macao.
Movie lovers in Taiwan region praise "Creation of the Gods II", look forward to "Ne Zha 2"
A Japanese lawmaker has raised concerns over Japan's push to expand its military and its nuclear policy.
Responding to some politicians' dangerous tendency towards possessing nuclear weapons, Takara Sachika, a member of Japan's House of Councilors, said that Japan's push to strengthen its military, combined with what she called a misguided nuclear policy, not only heightens regional tensions but also directly threatens regional security.
"I think this is completely unacceptable. Japan is a country that has suffered atomic bombings and is one of the nations most aware of the threat posed by nuclear weapons. Yet such a country is openly discussing the issue of possessing nuclear weapons and even attempting to revise the principle of not allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons, one of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. This is an extremely serious problem," Takara said.
Takara said the Japanese government's tendency to expand its military capabilities is completely contrary to the Constitution.
"From the perspective of Japan's Constitution, Japan should never have adopted a policy of ensuring security by strengthening military capabilities. Yet today, enormous effort is being poured into military expansion, and that in itself is a serious problem," said the lawmaker.
At a Diet meeting in early November 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that what she described as the Chinese central authorities' "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and suggested the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, drawing strong criticism worldwide.
Takara urged Takaichi to retract her erroneous remarks as soon as possible.
"I think there is a very big problem with making such remarks that provoke other countries. It is necessary to thoroughly examine the facts as soon as possible and withdraw the relevant remarks," she said.
Japanese lawmaker criticizes nuclear weapons remarks as threat to regional security
