China Accused of Censoring Art Exhibition in Bangkok

China Accused of Censoring Art Exhibition in Bangkok
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An art exhibition in Bangkok has removed or altered artworks following what its organizers described as pressure from the Chinese embassy, RFA reported. The exhibition, titled “Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machinery of Authoritarian Solidarity”, was held at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre (BACC) and featured works by artists in exile from various countries, including China’s autonomous regions.

According to a co-curator of the exhibition, Sai, staff from the Chinese embassy, accompanied by Bangkok city officials, visited the exhibition and demanded its closure. The BACC stated in an email that it was warned the exhibition could “risk creating diplomatic tensions” between Thailand and China.

In response to the pressure, the BACC removed a multimedia installation by a Tibetan artist and redacted the words “Hong Kong,” “Tibet,” and “Uyghur” from other pieces. The names of the artists associated with these works were also obscured.

On August 11, 2025, China’s Foreign Ministry responded to the controversy, accusing the exhibition organizers of “distorting” Chinese policies and promoting “fallacies” such as “Tibetan independence.” The ministry did not confirm or deny that the embassy was behind the changes. The incident has been criticized by artists and human rights groups as an example of Beijing’s attempts to extend its censorship and influence overseas.