‘I am a bookstore employee’: Taiwan sales surge after HK raids

The arrest of five people at two of Hong Kong’s last independent bookstores has ignited a wave of solidarity in Taiwan, where a simple T-shirt slogan—'I am a bookstore employee'—has gone viral and driven sales of a critically acclaimed book to new heights. The slogan, worn by a bookstore employee as she was escorted away by national security police, has become a rallying cry against censorship, with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te declaring that 'ideas and words should never be silenced by political pressure.'

Hong Kong raids trigger solidarity campaign

On July 17, Hong Kong police raided two independent bookstores, arresting five employees on suspicion of displaying and selling seditious publications—a national security crime carrying up to 10 years in prison. Among those detained was a woman whose T-shirt, reading 'I am a bookstore employee,' was captured in photographs as she was led away. The image quickly spread on Taiwanese social media, where the phrase became a hashtag shared by booksellers, lawmakers, and activists on platforms like Threads. The president’s Facebook post amplified the message, framing the arrests as an attack on free expression.

This was the third round of arrests linked to independent bookstores in Hong Kong in recent months. Hong Kong’s security chief, Chris Tang, defended the actions, saying booksellers must ensure their publications are lawful—comparing it to food safety. However, the authorities have not specified which books were deemed seditious. All five arrested have been released on bail.

Book on Xi Jinping flies off shelves in Taiwan

Reports suggest that the offending book may include Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China, by NPR journalist Emily Feng. The book, which examines the Chinese leader’s ideological control and includes a chapter on the late Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, has seen a dramatic surge in demand in Taiwan. The Taiwanese publisher, Acropolis Publishing, ordered an emergency reprint of 10,000 copies last week. Sara Sung, a senior editor at Acropolis, said many readers are buying the book 'as a statement of democracy and freedom,' showing they will not be silenced by Chinese censorship.

Independent bookshops in Taipei have been overwhelmed by demand. Chang Hui-ju, owner of Touat Books, said she sold out completely. 'Before this, hardly anyone paid attention to it,' she noted. 'But right after the incident, the book sold out everywhere.' Similarly, Kuo’s Astral Bookshop also ran out of stock. One customer, Wu Jia-xuan, said she normally isn’t interested in China-related books but became curious after the arrests: 'The fact that it had been banned only made me more curious.'

A symbol of resistance and uncertainty

The solidarity movement extends beyond book sales. The phrase 'I am a bookstore employee' has become a symbol of defiance against what many in Taiwan view as China’s encroaching censorship. The late bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who fled to Taiwan after escaping Chinese custody, is also being remembered. His Taipei bookstore, Causeway Bay Books, remains shuttered, its front covered with notes, flowers, and beer cans left by supporters.

The arrests and subsequent backlash highlight the growing tensions between Hong Kong’s national security law and Taiwan’s embrace of free expression. For now, the surge in book sales underscores a broader message: that political pressure can sometimes backfire, fueling curiosity and resistance rather than compliance. As the reprint quickly sells out, the question remains whether this moment of solidarity will translate into lasting change for independent booksellers across the strait.