Is China seeking to restrict Taiwan's cultural presence?

When Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-zi's "Taiwan Travelogue" won the 2026 International Booker Prize, it marked a historic breakthrough on the global stage. But behind the triumph lay a sharp geopolitical reality.

On stage, Lin King, who translated the book into English, gave voice to the anxiety looming over Taiwan, where she spent a large part of her childhood.

"In 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine , I made the explicit decision that rather than translating Sinophone works indiscriminately, I would only translate writing from Taiwan for the foreseeable future. I will continue to do so until the day comes that my homeland's sovereignty is no longer a provocation or a punchline — until no English speaker feels comfortable saying to me, 'I really should come visit you in Taiwan while it still exists.'" she said in her acceptance speech.

"Taiwan Travelogue" follows a young Japanese writer visiting Japanese-colonized Taiwan in May 1938 on an official government-sponsored lecture tour. As she and her Taiwanese interpreter explore local street food together, a subtle intimacy unfolds between them. The narrative centers Taiwan's history rather than Beijing's preferred "Greater China" framework.

"Literature and politics are directly connected," Yang told DW. "Politics determines the allocation of resources, and the allocation of resources determines which works get pulled out, held up high and defined as 'good literature.' The idea that politics can just be kept out of it doesn't exist."

A few days after the 2026 International Booker Prize was announced, China's Taiwan Affairs Office reacted by saying the following: "Writers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait should firmly uphold a national standpoint, respect historical facts, and squarely face the immense suffering inflicted upon the Chinese people ... by Japan's war of aggression and fascism."

"From China's perspective, they do not want to see Taiwan's voice gain prominence." Yang said.

Her book demonstrates that Taiwanese culture is shaped by multiple historical strands — including Indigenous , Japanese colonial and local Han influences, rather than being merely a "branch of Chinese culture."