HA JIN:
I wrote in English as a form of protest

A sudden rainshower during early fall in Berlin prompted writers and literary figures from various countries to seek shelter under the author's tent. They stood close to each other in protection of the cold wind that blew across the tent, drinking and refilling their wine.

Last September, the Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin featured many names normally found in book racks, such as Elif Shafak, Kazuo Ishiguro, Roddy Doyle, Michael Cunningham, Wole Soyinka and Martin Amis, as well as Ha Jin, a literary figure from China, now living in exile in the United States. All day long, he was surrounded by journalists.

October 13, 2015