Taiwan’s Minister of Culture, Lee Yuan, visited France and on the 11th, he was interviewed by Radio France Internationale (RFI). Lee expressed that the existence of Taiwan and Taiwanese culture is a source of pain for the Chinese Communist Party, stating that “our existence is like a mirror reflecting their demons.”
Minister Lee Yuan began his European tour on the 6th, starting in the UK before heading to France to participate in the 30th Taiwan-France Cultural Award judging and the 29th award ceremony. He emphasized his role as Minister of Culture in building a stronger cultural alliance between Taiwan and Europe.
In the interview with Radio France Internationale, Lee Yuan reiterated that Taiwan’s presence and culture represent a challenge for the Chinese Communist Party. He mentioned that because they cannot replicate what Taiwan represents, Taiwan’s existence is a thorn in their side.
Lee Yuan stressed that the Chinese Communist Party cannot replicate what Taiwan embodies, leading them to wish for Taiwan’s non-existence due to their discomfort. In response to the frequent propaganda from the CCP, Lee expressed his inability to comprehend their mindset.
According to Lee, true culture manifests in daily life without the need for explicit definition. He believes that a genuinely powerful culture does not require excessive promotion nor fear of others’ opinions.
Previously, the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea faced backlash for unilaterally changing the Taiwan Pavilion to the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA), sparking protests from the Taiwanese and Korean art communities. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of China continued to protest, with Lee Yuan reiterating their unwavering stance. The Ministry demanded that the organizers publicly commit to fulfill their obligations by August 26th. Eventually, the Gwangju Biennale Foundation announced that they would exhibit under the name “Taiwan Pavilion.”
The Chinese authorities expressed dissatisfaction with the reinstatement of the Taiwan Pavilion name at the Gwangju Biennale. The Chinese exhibition team held a press conference on September 3rd to protest and announced their withdrawal from the exhibition scheduled for September 5th.