PVLF 2025

Czech Publisher Defies China, Displays Taiwan Flags at Fair

Mi:Lu Publishing refused China's demand to remove Taiwan flags at Book World Prague, gaining global attention and strong support from Czech visitors.
on May 20, 2025

As an unprecedented firm demonstration of resistance against political pressure exerted by China, Czech publisher Mi:Lu Publishing exhibited two Taiwan flags during the four-day Book World Prague international book fair, which ended on Sunday according to a report in the Taiwan News.

Delegates from the Chinese delegation were said to have requested that flags be taken down, focusing international attention and local support for Taiwan's participation at the fair, the report by Taiwan News continued.

Many Czech and Taiwanese tourists visited the Mi:Lu booth to show their support, said Editor-in-Chief Tzu-hsuan of the Central News Agency of Taiwan.

The publisher also received several online messages of encouragement.

As reported by CNA, the Chinese delegation members had insisted particularly that the Taiwan flags be removed, but the publishing house did not comply. The incident soon turned into a focal point for larger matters of censorship and political meddling with cultural venues.

Tomas Rizek, the owner of Mi:Lu Publishing, said to Czech Radio, "We initially didn't want to show the flag here, but when they told us that Taiwan did not exist, we decided we needed to adjust the design of our stand." According to Rizek, a woman - "presumably an agent from the Chinese embassy" - took photos of the stand and flags "at least four times in 20 minutes." When his colleague showed her a book, "she insisted that she didn't want any, that she wasn't photographing books."

Rizek stated that he also snapped a photo of the woman. She was afterwards seen at Chinese publishers' booth. When Czech Radio asked her to say something, she refused to comment, saying in Chinese that she did not want to make any comments, Taiwan News reported.

The incident stoked fears that Chinese delegates were actively monitoring the Taiwan-supporting booth and harassing exhibitors through frequent surveillance.

Book fair director Radovan Auer verified that the incident was not unique. "I have been informed by Rizek that Chinese individuals visit and photograph them regularly," said Auer to Czech Radio. "Rizek is very gracious to deal with them, for instance, by showing them his books, which he has translated into Chinese." According to Auer, the fair has a policy of openness and inclusivity. "Russia is a terrorist regime, we are strict about that, but otherwise we try to be as open as possible," he said.

Pressure from China started even prior to the event, said Auer. The delegation requested fair organisers to have the logos of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office erased from the event website and demanded later that Mi:Lu have the Taiwan flags taken down from their stand - requests that were denied, Taiwan News has reported.

Mi:Lu Publishing resisted pressure from the Chinese delegation at Book World Prague by maintaining Taiwan flags on display throughout the fair. Czech tourists and organisers supported the move, refusing China's demands to drop mentions of Taiwan from the event.

Taipei [Taiwan], May 19 (ANI): In a bold gesture of defiance against political pressure exerted by China, Czech publishing house Mi:Lu Publishing displayed two Taiwan flags during the four-day Book World Prague international book fair, which ended on Sunday according to a report in the Taiwan News.

The Chinese delegation members allegedly requested that the flags be taken down, drawing international interest and local solidarity with Taiwan's participation at the fair, the Taiwan News report said.

Publisher Tzu-hsuan said that numerous Czech and Taiwanese visitors made their way to the Mi:Lu booth to show support. The publisher also received many online messages of encouragement.

As reported by CNA, the Chinese delegates had actually requested specifically that Taiwan flags be removed, but the publishing house declined. The incident soon turned into a hot potato for more general issues of censorship and political intervention in cultural arenas.

Mi:Lu Publishing founder Tomas Rizek explained to Czech Radio, "We didn't want to show the flag here originally, but when they informed us Taiwan didn't exist, we figured that we needed to alter the layout of our stand." Rizek reported a woman - "likely an agent from the Chinese embassy" - was observed photographing the stand and flags "at least four times within 20 minutes." When his colleague offered her a book, "she insisted that she didn't want any, that she wasn't photographing books."

Rizek mentioned he snapped a photo of the woman in response. She turned up later at one of the Chinese publishers' booths. She refused to speak to Czech Radio when approached, answering in Chinese that she would not make any comments, Taiwan News said.

The incident added to fears that Chinese delegates were aggressively monitoring the Taiwan-friendly booth and intimidating exhibitors by repeatedly stalking their area.

Book fair manager Radovan Auer also confirmed that the incident was not unique. "I have heard from Rizek that Chinese people come and photograph them all the time," Auer said to Czech Radio. "Rizek greets them with great dignity, for instance, by sharing his books, which he has in Chinese." Auer explained that the fair works on a policy of openness and inclusiveness. "Russia is a terrorist state, we are firm on that, but otherwise we attempt to be as open as possible," he said.

China exerted pressure even before the event, Auer said. The delegation asked for fair organisers to take down the logos of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office from the event website and later asked Mi:Lu to take down the Taiwan flags from their stand - requests that were denied, Taiwan News said.

"They promptly submitted a motion to exclude them, but we didn't respond in any manner," Auer explained. "The ministry responded that we are in a democratic state and Book World is a private institution."