Probe International

(September 21, 2009) A dispute between China and organizers of the famed Frankfurt Book Fair threatens to overshadow the world’s premier publishing event and become a diplomatic headache for German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of elections later this month.

(September 16, 2009) A Chinese government official is expressing outrage at the organizers of last weekend’s symposium, which was part of the run-up to next month’s Frankfurt Book Fair, after dissident writers Dai Qing and Bei Ling were allowed to participate in the event.

(September 14, 2009) Statements made by Chinese dissident writers Dai Qing and Bei Ling at this weekend’s symposium for the Frankfurt Book Exchange prompted the official Chinese delegation to walk out. Juergen Boos, director of the book fair, says the appearance of the two writers was not communicated clearly to the Chinese officials.

(September 12, 2009) According to a Deutsche Presse-Agentur story, the Chinese government walked out of today’s symposium organized by the Frankfurt Book Fair called “China and the world – perception and reality” when dissident writers, Dai Qing and Bei Ling, showed up to speak their minds.

(September 12, 2009) The controversy surrounding this weekend’s symposium honouring China’s literature in the run-up to the Frankfurt Book Fair in October has escalated, with two Chinese dissident writers saying they plan to attend the event. Both Dai Qing and Bei Ling, whose invitations to the symposium were retracted by organizers after threats from the Chinese government, have now arrived in Frankfurt.

(September 12, 2009) Two Chinese dissidents caused a diplomatic incident at a symposium Saturday ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Their appearance at the event was enough for the official Chinese delegation to walk out.

(September 11, 2009) A Chinese dissident said Friday she would describe ‘abuses of power’ by Chinese officials when she addresses a symposium in the German city of Frankfurt over the weekend.

(September 11, 2009) The international symposium ”China and the World – Perceptions and Realities,” scheduled for this weekend in Frankfurt has been overshadowed by a controversy involving the cancelled participation of Chinese dissident writers.

(September 11, 2009) Bei Ling and Dai Qing excluded after Chinese government threatens to withdraw from event if they participate.

(September 11, 2009) Frankfurt Book Fair organisers said Friday that two Chinese authors they had disinvited to a symposium after China threatened to boycott the event would attend after all – but not as official guests.

(September 11, 2009) Beijing – A Chinese dissident writer traveled to the Frankfurt Book Fair Friday despite organizers revoking her invitation due to pressure from Beijing.