Taipei - Taiwan will boycott the 2008 Seoul International Book Fair after the organizer, under pressure from China, demanded Taiwan use the name "Chinese-Taipei," an official said Thursday.

Shieh Jhy-wei, minister of the Government Information Office, said the Korean Publishers' Association notified Taipei on April 25 that it cannot use the name Taiwan, but must use Chinese-Taipei instead at the May 14-18 book fair.

The reason is that South Korea has invited China to be the special guest nation at the Seoul book fair. China has demanded the use of Chinese-Taipei to reflect its view that the self-governing island is part of China.

Taiwan has refused to accept what it sees as an unfair demand and has said it will not attend the book fair.

The boycott will cost 1 million Taiwan dollars (30,000 US dollars) in losses in preparing to attend the fair and printing brochures.

Taiwan uses the name Chinese-Taipei at international sporting events, but Shieh said the island has never used the name at book fairs.

"If we accept it, it will have a domino effect and force us to use 'Chinese-Taipei' in all international cultural activities," he said.

Shieh called China's interference "ridiculous" and urged the government of incoming President Ma Ying-jeou to fight for Taiwan's right to attend international activities. (dpa)