A Taiwanese novel exploring Japan’s colonial rule has won the 2026 International Booker Prize, sparking debate over Taiwan’s identity and its complex relationships with China and its former colonizer. *Taiwan Travelogue*, written by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translated by Lin King, examines the island’s fraught history through the lens of a 1930s journey, raising questions about colonialism, memory, and national belonging.
Colonial Legacy Divides Taiwan, China, and Japan
The novel follows Japanese writer Aoyama Chizuko and her Taiwanese translator Ō Chizuru as they traverse Taiwan under Japanese occupation. Their interactions—marked by power imbalances, a burgeoning romance, and encounters with both Taiwanese and Japanese characters—challenge simplistic narratives of colonialism. While the book has been celebrated globally, it has drawn criticism in China, where some accuse it of downplaying Japan’s wartime atrocities.
Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, the author, rejects these claims. In an interview with NPR, she stated: “I am completely criticizing colonialism. My point is that even when colonizers attempt equality, the system itself is fundamentally flawed.” She argues that Taiwan’s perspective differs from Korea’s or China’s because the island experienced both Japanese rule and the subsequent authoritarian regime of the Republic of China (ROC), which replaced Japanese with Mandarin and suppressed local languages.
This dual legacy has shaped Taiwan’s ambivalent view of Japan. As Yáng noted, “After the war, the ROC adopted the former colonizer’s methods. That rupture explains why some Taiwanese, in hindsight, don’t view Japan as harshly as others in the region.”
Identity Beyond Ancestry: A Taiwanese Perspective
Yáng’s own background reflects Taiwan’s layered identity. Born to families that migrated from Fujian centuries ago, she grew up among *WaiShengRen*—descendants of those who fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War in 1949. Yet she rejects defining Taiwanese identity by ancestry. “I hope people identify with Taiwan based on shared values, not bloodlines,” she told NPR. “Whether you’re a new resident or third-generation, we are all Taiwanese.”
Translator Lin King echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how younger generations view Taiwan as a vibrant democracy. “For us, Taiwan has always been loud and free. That’s the reality our allies often overlook,” King said. The novel’s translation, she added, required balancing historical accuracy with cultural nuance, including footnotes to clarify 1930s context for English readers.
Geopolitical Tensions Loom Over Literary Debate
The controversy surrounding *Taiwan Travelogue* extends beyond history. China’s claim over Taiwan casts a shadow over discussions of identity, with some accusing the book of serving political agendas. King framed the debate in pragmatic terms: “We rely on allies like Japan because of greater threats. It’s realpolitik.”
Yáng’s greatest fear, however, is not war but the erosion of Taiwan’s hard-won democracy. “We gained the right to vote just 30 years ago,” she said. “Are we really willing to give up our freedoms so quickly?” As Taiwan navigates these tensions, the novel’s success underscores how literature can both reflect and shape national conversations—even as the world watches. Readers should monitor how China responds to the book’s global acclaim and whether it fuels further diplomatic friction.
