8legs: Yang shang-zi

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The Politics Behind Taiwan’s Soft Power

Taiwan Travelogue won the International Booker Prize, making it the first Mandarin-language novel to win in translation.
The authors Yang Shang-zi and Lin King previously won the U.S. National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2024.
The novel is set during the Japanese colonial period and examines a relationship between a Japanese author and a Taiwanese interpreter.
The piece notes that Taiwan's government has invested in translating Taiwanese literature as part of cultural diplomacy.
The article highlights internal Taiwan politics, noting support and criticism from Pan-Green and Pan-Blue figures during the 2025 Great Recall Movement.
The Diplomat frames the win as part of Taiwan’s broader soft-power narrative amid cross-strait tensions.
The article mentions programs like Books for Taiwan and Taiwan Plus as part of cultural outreach.
The narrative connects Taiwan’s literary success to broader cultural representation abroad and internal debates on identity.
The Diplomat notes potential partisan reactions to the book's themes within Taiwan.
Taiwan Travelogue is described as a historical text with contemporary invention hints.
The piece emphasizes dialogue with Chinese readers about Taiwan’s future identity.

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