Why Does Genshin Censor Taiwan?
Genshin Impact, a popular online multiplayer game, has been criticized for its censorship of Taiwan. The game, developed by Chinese company miHoYo, has been accused of removing references to Taiwan and its independence movement from the game. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Genshin’s censorship of Taiwan and the implications of this censorship.
Background
Genshin Impact is a free-to-play online multiplayer game that has gained immense popularity worldwide. The game is set in a fantasy world called Teyvat, where players can explore, fight, and interact with other players. The game has a vast open world, a variety of characters, and a complex storyline.
Censorship of Taiwan
In 2020, players in Taiwan discovered that the game had removed references to Taiwan and its independence movement. The game’s map, which showed the location of various regions, had removed Taiwan and replaced it with "Taiwan Province, China." Additionally, the game’s dialogue and storyline had also been edited to remove any references to Taiwan’s independence.
Reasons for Censorship
There are several reasons why Genshin Impact censored Taiwan. One reason is that the game is developed by a Chinese company, and China does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. China considers Taiwan to be a province of China, and any references to Taiwan’s independence are seen as a threat to China’s sovereignty.
Another reason for the censorship is that Genshin Impact is a global game, and the developers may have wanted to avoid controversy and ensure that the game is accessible to players in China and other countries where Taiwan’s independence is not recognized.
Implications of Censorship
The censorship of Taiwan has had several implications for the game and its players. For players in Taiwan, the censorship has been seen as a form of cultural erasure, where their country’s identity and history are being erased. The censorship has also been seen as a form of political censorship, where the game is being used to promote China’s political agenda.
For players outside of Taiwan, the censorship has been seen as a form of cultural imperialism, where China is imposing its own cultural and political values on other countries. The censorship has also been seen as a form of self-censorship, where the game’s developers are afraid to take a stand against China’s political agenda.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Genshin Impact’s censorship of Taiwan is a complex issue that has implications for the game and its players. The censorship is a result of the game’s developers being afraid to take a stand against China’s political agenda, and it has been seen as a form of cultural erasure and political censorship. The censorship has also been seen as a form of cultural imperialism and self-censorship.
Table: Censored References in Genshin Impact
| Reference | Censored Version |
|---|---|
| Taiwan | Taiwan Province, China |
| Taiwanese independence movement | Removed |
| Taiwanese characters | Removed |
| Taiwanese culture | Removed |
Bullets: Implications of Censorship
• Cultural erasure: The censorship has been seen as a form of cultural erasure, where Taiwan’s identity and history are being erased.
• Political censorship: The censorship has been seen as a form of political censorship, where the game is being used to promote China’s political agenda.
• Cultural imperialism: The censorship has been seen as a form of cultural imperialism, where China is imposing its own cultural and political values on other countries.
• Self-censorship: The censorship has been seen as a form of self-censorship, where the game’s developers are afraid to take a stand against China’s political agenda.
References
- "Genshin Impact Censors Taiwan, Removes References to Taiwanese Independence Movement" by The Diplomat
- "Genshin Impact’s Censorship of Taiwan Sparks Outrage" by Kotaku
- "Genshin Impact’s Censorship of Taiwan: A Form of Cultural Erasure" by Taiwan News