TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — France’s Strasbourg Mayor Jeanne Barseghian has condemned what she called “extremely serious” interference after the Chinese consulate sought to pressure a local theater into canceling a Taiwan-themed play.
Barseghian told AFP on Wednesday the Chinese Consulate in Strasbourg had requested the cancellation of a Taiwan-related production, per CNA. The Strasbourg theater Le Maillon had scheduled performances of Swiss director Stefan Kaegi’s work “This is Not an Embassy" from March 5-7.
Local media outlet Rue89 Strasbourg reported on Tuesday that Le Maillon received a phone call from the Chinese consulate early February expressing the consul’s displeasure over the staging of the play. The report noted that the production describes Taiwan as “a territory whose international recognition is inversely proportional to its economic weight.”
Barseghian confirmed the Rue89 Strasbourg report, saying she had received a letter from the Chinese consulate “requesting the cancellation of the play on the grounds that it poses a problem for the diplomatic relations established between China and France.” She said she had replied by reiterating French law, under which artistic freedom is guaranteed.
“This should genuinely concern us,” she added, expressing support for the Le Maillon team and noting that she had contacted the regional cultural affairs office under the Ministry of Culture, “as this is extremely serious, with repeated attacks on creative freedom.” The Chinese Consulate in Strasbourg did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
The Taipei representative office in France on Wednesday said on its Facebook page that the play uses theater to explore Taiwan’s unique role in the international arena. It stressed that the story is not only about Taiwan, but also part of a global dialogue on democracy and identity.
The office said that any form of censorship or suppression will only make the international community more aware of Taiwan’s resilience and highlight the value of democracy.
