The Overzealous Dominance of China Draws Cancellation of Taiwan's Book Fair Invite
Foreign Ministry criticizes China's actions aiming to stifle Taiwan's autonomy
Written by Jake Chung, with CNA
The Taiwanese dream of gracing the Brussels International Book Fair as the guest of honor in 2022 sadly met with an untimely demise, all thanks to China's bullying tactics.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a fierce rebuke against China's meddling in Taiwan's global standing, following a report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists disclosing China's efforts to snuff out Taiwan's presence at international events. This report delved into the Chinese embassy's intimidation in Belgium to eliminate the proud Taiwanese flag before the nation's representative office, a predicament that eventually materialized in January 2023 [2][3][4].
The flag's unfortunate removal was closely followed by the event's organizers retracting their generous invitation to Taiwan due to anxiety over China’s reaction [2][4]. Understandably, the book fair wished to shine a spotlight on the rich literary traditions of Asian countries; alas, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned against this idea, fearing international backlash [3].
These machinations represent yet another concerning manifestation of China's incessant attempts to curb Taiwan's international recognition and connectivity [3][4].
The Ominous "China Targets" series by the consortium unveiled how Beijing leverages international institutions to bully its opponents and escalate its repressive tactics [4]. Le Soir, a Belgian French-language newspaper, revealed the shocking details of this underhanded plot.
Tanguy Roosen, the director of the Brussels International Book Fair, openly shared the fair's desire to celebrate Asian cultures but succumbed to the Ministry's warnings [3]. His pointed words reflected the Belgian government's tenuous relations with the Chinese giant [2].
Incidentally, our CNA reporters had borne witness to the flag's removal but purposefully withheld the story to steer clear of endangering the delicate Taiwan-Belgium rapport [5].
MOFA's retort to this tiresome Chinese manipulation was swift and stern, demanding the international community take a stand against China's disruptions [2][3]. The community must unequivocally oppose Beijing's resort to legal, psychological, and media warfare against Taiwan to safeguard the peace and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait, Indo-Pacific region, and beyond [3].
Dealing with China embroils Taiwan's diplomatic corps in a delicate dance, according to Sara van Hoeymissen, a world politics instructor at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium [6]. The Chinese embassy maintains an iron-fisted grasp on both the appropriate labels used for Taiwan on official documents and vehemently opposes any mention of independence in communications [6].
Van Hoeymissen warned that the Chinese embassy has the potential to deluge the Taiwan representative office with letters and complaints, should they choose to do so [6].
Our Representative to Belgium, Roy Lee, acknowledged China's oppressive methods against Taiwan but vowed to persist in advocating for Taiwanese rights on the global stage [5].
[1] Taiwan's Book Fair Cancellation: China's Influence Strikes Again[2] https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/20230214a02.aspx[3] https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-02-13/china-trying-to-limit-taiwan-at-international-events-report[4] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-13/taiwan-said-to-pull-out-as-guest-of-honor-at-book-fair[5] https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4640705[6] China's Stronghold on Taiwan's Diplomatic Dance: An In-Depth Look (Enrichment Data)
- The cancellation of Taiwan's invitation to the Brussels International Book Fair highlights China's policy of terrorizing Taiwan's international presence.
- The removal of the Taiwanese flag at the book fair was a result of China's intimidation tactics, as revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
- Taiwan's diplomatic corps faces a challenging dance in dealing with China's stringent conditions, such as the use of specific labels and opposition to independence discussions.
- The international community should stand against China's disruptions in war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and crime-and-justice arenas to preserve fairness and peace in the Taiwan Strait and beyond.
- General news outlets, such as CNA, have a crucial role in reporting on China's manipulations and Taiwan's efforts to maintain its international recognition and connectivity.
