The Victoria and Albert Museum in London removed material from at least two recent exhibition catalogs at the request of a Chinese printing company, according to documents obtained by The Guardian through freedom of information requests. The report found that certain maps and images were flagged as violating China’s censorship laws. Partnering with foreign printing companies isn’t unusual among major arts institutions; both the British Museum and Tate do so, as the report notes. In the V&A’s case, however, the episode has underscored the controversy inherent in outsourcing production: by choosing a Chinese printer over more expensive British or European options, the museum subjected its publications to restrictions governing topics deemed sensitive by the Chinese government. Related Articles The list of flagged topics includes historically and politically sensitive subjects of major significance, including the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre—the site of a violent crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators—as well as Tibet and Taiwan, both of which maintain political autonomy in contradiction of Beijing’s territorial claims. In the case of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Chinese …