The Gwangju Biennale has become the latest international art event to be caught up in the Taiwan-China divide, with China withdrawing its participation in protest of the reinstated 'Taiwan Pavilion' title.

Just nine days ago, the biennale organizers had reinstated the name 'Taiwan Pavilion' after it was initially omitted from promotional materials, much to the relief of Taiwanese artists. However, this move has clearly upset China, with the country's curator, Ruan Yuelai, announcing the China Pavilion’s unanimous withdrawal during a press conference.

The unrest between Taiwan, China, and the event organizers began in mid-August, when the biennale organizers changed the name of the Taiwan Pavilion, omitting the term 'Taiwan' altogether. Despite initial resistance from Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and participating artists, who saw the change as political censorship, the organizers eventually reversed their decision on August 25. However, this was not enough to quell tensions.

The withdrawal from the Gwangju Biennale continues a pattern of heightened political tensions in international cultural events, where the participation of Taiwan is often seen as a matter of principle by China. The decision highlights the complex interplay between politics and art, and the difficulty of maintaining neutrality in such high-stakes disputes.