V Museum Alters Exhibition Catalogues Due to Chinese Censorship Requests
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London has made changes to its exhibition catalogues following requests from Chinese censors. According to a report, the museum removed images of historic maps and a photograph of Vladimir Lenin from two catalogues after they were flagged by Beijing's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP). This action is part of a broader trend of 'transnational repression,' where foreign states exert censorship beyond their borders. The V&A, along with other UK institutions like Tate and the British Museum, often prints materials in China to reduce costs, necessitating compliance with Chinese standards. The museum stated that the edits were minor and maintained that they have editorial oversight over their publications. However, critics argue that such compliance could compromise the independence of cultural institutions. 
