By Central News Agency Reporter Lin Shang-Ying, Berlin, September 9After Taiwanese author Yang Shuangzi's novel 'Taiwan Travelogue' won this year's International Booker Prize, Germany's public broadcaster recently produced a special program introducing Taiwanese literature. The program notes that German publishers have recently begun to focus on the diverse literary landscape of Taiwan itself, rather than viewing Taiwan solely through the lens of cross-strait tensions or the threat from China.Germany's public broadcasting literary program 'Lesart' (Reading Perspectives) recently aired a special feature on Taiwanese literature. The host introduced the topic by referencing 'Taiwan Travelogue,' which recently won the International Booker Prize, pointing out that the novel's win has brought international literary attention to Taiwan—a place previously less recognized in Europe as a literary nation.Katharina Borchert, the program editor with long-standing interest in East Asian literature, stated that Taiwan has received increasing international attention in recent years—not only due to China's escalating military and political pressure, but also because more German publishers are releasing works from Taiwan, giving German readers greater access to Taiwanese literature.When asked whether China's military threats have become a major theme in literature, Borchert noted that, at least based on works currently translated into German and English, such content is relatively scarce.She believes this is, in a way, a positive sign, indicating that life in Taiwan does not revolve entirely around China, and that German publishers' interest in Taiwan extends beyond geopolitics to encompass its society, culture, and literary merit.Borchert admitted she has considered whether Taiwanese authors might be deliberately avoiding topics related to China to prevent potential censorship if Taiwan were ever annexed—a form of 'preventive self-censorship.'However, she emphasized this is merely her personal speculation, and the true reasons can only be answered by the authors themselves. Still, amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, such speculation is not entirely unfounded.During the program, Borchert shared her first encounter with Taiwanese literature: Li Ang's 1983 novel 'The Butcher's Wife,' which depicts a woman enduring long-term domestic violence who ultimately kills and dismembers her husband. The story left a deep impression on her.For German readers new to Taiwanese literature, Borchert recommended works such as Jessica J. Lee's 'Two Trees Make a Forest'—by a Canadian-Taiwanese writer based in Berlin—or Chen Si-Hong's novel 'Stark City,' both available in German translation.The program highlighted that the Japanese colonial era remains a recurring theme in recent Taiwanese literature, with 'Taiwan Travelogue' set against this historical backdrop. Additionally, elements such as the ocean, mountains, ecology, and ghosts frequently appear in Taiwanese literary works, reflecting the island's unique natural environment and cultural traditions.The program also compared the development of literature in China and Taiwan. Borchert explained that although writers from both sides use Chinese and share classical Chinese literary traditions, Taiwan has additionally integrated Hokkien, Austronesian indigenous languages, and a 50-year tradition of Japanese-language writing. Combined with historical experiences such as Japanese rule, the White Terror, and democratization, Taiwan's literary development has diverged significantly from that of China.When asked about the potential fate of Taiwanese literature if China were to annex Taiwan, Borchert cited scholarly opinions suggesting that dialect and minority language education would likely be weakened, certain books removed from shelves, publishers shut down, literary awards and publishing activities brought under official control, and Taiwan's literary history reinterpreted to fit China's official narrative.In closing, Borchert warned that many Chinese dissident writers currently choose to publish their works through free presses in Taiwan. If Taiwan were to lose its publishing freedom, the space for free expression in Chinese-language literature would vanish entirely.