Quarto and Octopus defend changing book content to print in China

Quarto and Octopus have defended changing the content of books intended for western readers so they can be printed in China.

The Financial Times reported both publishers removed references to Taiwan, a democratic nation that China claims as its territory, and other subjects banned by Chinese authorities from several books.  

Since 2020 Octopus has removed references to Taiwan in at least two books , the newspaper reported. In one case, an entire section relating to Taiwan was cut. 

In the same period Quarto erased mentions of Hong Kong and dissident artist Ai Weiwei from separate publications, the FT said. The nationality of people mentioned in one book was also changed from Taiwanese to East Asian, while references to Tibet, a region annexed by China in 1951, were revised in two books to suggest it was Chinese territory. 

Both publishers changed their books after suppliers in China said they were unable to publish the original text as they face legal restrictions on what they can print, according to the newspaper. Production fees in China are lower than elsewhere, making printing there attractive despite the restrictions.  

A spokesperson for Octopus stressed that the majority of Octopus’ new books are not printed in China and said: “Chinese government guidelines are being enforced more strictly and in certain titles we have been asked to amend text which references, for example, the country of origin of certain plants or drinks. These changes are not material and we always ask the permission of the author first to check they are comfortable to proceed. 

“We have actively chosen not to print in China any books where prohibited references are material to the book or to the author’s viewpoint.” 

A spokesperson for Quarto added: “We publish more than 5,000 books a year printed in many locations around the world. We do not make changes at the request of our suppliers and always protect the editorial integrity of our books. 

“We have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of our shareholders and in the illustrated non-fiction market, Quarto, alongside many other publishers, often prints books in China where we work with reliable suppliers who can consistently deliver high quality and value for money. We have been fortunate that our suppliers in China – and elsewhere across the globe – have been able to continue to achieve this during a period of unprecedented challenges.”