Lawmakers from various countries have reported receiving pressure from Chinese diplomats not to attend a conference in Taiwan organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). The conference, beginning on Monday, aims to address how democracies interact with Beijing. Despite facing previous challenges from the Chinese government, this year’s pressure has been deemed as “gross foreign interference” by IPAC’s director.
Chinese officials have been contacting politicians from countries like Slovakia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, urging them not to attend the conference in Taiwan. The unprecedented level of pressure has only fueled the determination of these lawmakers to participate in the event. Chinese diplomats have been accused of making vague inquiries about travel plans to Taiwan and even demanding party heads to prevent lawmakers from attending.
This interference comes amidst China’s ongoing efforts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, with recent moves such as peeling off the island’s diplomatic allies. Despite Beijing’s threats and retaliation, lawmakers targeted by Chinese diplomats remain resolute in supporting Taiwan and confronting the challenges posed by China to democracy.
Participants of the conference in Taiwan view the pressure as an opportunity to exchange information and address the threats China poses to democratic nations. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not commented on the allegations of interference. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, as well as the global implications of Beijing’s diplomatic strategies.
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