London: Yang Shuang-zi, whose novel "Taiwan Travelogue" won the International Booker Prize on Tuesday, said her book was part of a long tradition of Taiwanese texts asking what kind of future and nation the Taiwanese people want. Yang and the book's English translator Lin King received the award at a ceremony at the Tate Modern Museum in London, making the novel the first from Taiwan to win what is considered one of Britain's top literary awards.

According to Focus Taiwan, in her acceptance speech, Yang said that contrary to the view that art and literature must be kept far from politics, she believed that literature "cannot be kept separate from the soil in which it has grown." She emphasized that Taiwanese writers have been asking crucial questions about the future and identity of Taiwan for the past century. "Taiwan Travelogue, too, joins the long list of texts that investigate these questions," she noted.

Yang highlighted the challenges faced by Taiwan's people due to "geopolitical forces so much greater than our own," such as colonial regimes and threats of invasion. Despite these challenges, she expressed her belief in the power of literature, stating that it maintains a dialogue between people. She dedicated her closing words to Taiwan, framing its literary tradition as a pursuit of freedom and equality, and expressed pride in her Taiwanese heritage.

Lin King, in her acceptance speech, shared her decision to focus on translating works from Taiwan after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. She aimed to highlight Taiwan's sovereignty and counter perceptions that it is transient. Her translation of "Taiwan Travelogue" includes additional elements like a foreword, afterword, and footnotes to challenge the publishing industry's norms and highlight Taiwan's complex cultural reality.

First published in 2020, "Taiwan Travelogue" is set in 1938 during Taiwan's Japanese colonial era. The novel explores a friendship between a Taiwanese woman and a Japanese woman through a journey across Taiwan, delving into themes of identity, empire, and cultural exchange. The Booker Prize Foundation recognized the novel from a shortlist featuring writers from eight countries, describing it as a "bittersweet story of love between two women, nested in artful exploration of language, history and power."

During a speech marking his second year in office, President Lai Ching-te congratulated Yang and King, stating that their achievement demonstrated that Taiwanese young people "can shine on the world stage."