"French and Taiwanese media reported that the local Chinese consulate reached out to the Strasbourg theater Le Maillon in early February to object to the planned performances of “Ceci n’est pas une ambassade” (“This Is Not an Embassy”). This documentary-style show was co-created by Rimini Protokoll and Taiwan’s National Theater and Concert Hall. It simulates the opening of a Taiwanese embassy and explores Taiwan’s unclear international status. The play was chosen as the opening event for the “Démocraties en jeu” festival, which focuses on threats to democratic governance. When the theater’s director did not respond to the initial contact, the deputy consul general escalated the issue by directly writing to the City of Strasbourg, the theater’s main funder. He demanded the cancellation of the show, claiming it would hurt Sino-French relations."