It’s hard to tell if the Frankfurt Book Fair is practicing extremely subtle diplomacy in a difficult situation or simply bungling the reconciliation of China as guest of honor with the presence of Chinese dissidents. On Friday Fair director Juergen Boos “announced” in his second letter of apology on the Fair’s web site that dissidents Dai Qing and Bei Ling would indeed “come to Frankfurt and will participate in the symposium.” When the two were given the podium at the beginning of the symposium on Saturday, the official Chinese delegation walked out. In a third posted letter of apology, Boos […]
