Munich:A local literary institute in Munich faced pressure from the Chinese consulate to cancel an event featuring Taiwanese author Yang Shuang-tzu, according to Chao Yen-ching, director of Taiwan's representative office in the city.

According to Focus Taiwan, the managing director of Literaturhaus München, Tanja Graf, confirmed that the consulate attempted to interfere with the event. Prior to Yang's scheduled appearance, consulate officials contacted the institute, offering to fund and arrange an alternative event with a Chinese author. However, the institute declined the request.

The event, which included a public reading and discussion of Yang's International Booker Prize-winning novel "Taiwan Travelogue," was further complicated by issues with the interpreter. Chao noted that the Chinese-German interpreter, Tsao Chang-chen, was hired by Literaturhaus München. Tsao, who was recommended by a Taiwanese expatriate association in Berlin, failed to properly translate several terms and remarks during the event, including references to the "Republic of China," "Taiwan," and "China."

Chao reported that Tsao translated "cognitive warfare" as "misinformation" and altered Yang's mention of "the immense threat from China" to "a threat from a very big neighbor." This led the organizer to clarify that the neighbor referred to was indeed China. Following complaints from attendees, Chao addressed the issue with Tsao and raised concerns with the event's moderator, the book's German translator, and Literaturhaus München, who were reportedly shocked and embarrassed.

During the event, audience members described as "Chinese-looking" attempted to pose politically sensitive questions, though Yang responded effectively. Chao did not find evidence linking the interpreter controversy to Chinese involvement but acknowledged that the consulate's attempt to cancel the event suggested possible influence on attendees.

Yang later remarked that the situation underscored the inseparability of literature and politics.