Lawmakers from six countries have recently reported facing significant pressure from Chinese diplomats to avoid attending a conference in Taiwan. This conference, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), brings together hundreds of lawmakers from 35 countries to discuss global responses to China’s influence. The event is noteworthy as it marks the first time IPAC’s annual meeting is being held in Taiwan, a self-governed island that China claims as its territory.
The pressure exerted by China has been intense, with reports of phone calls, texts, and urgent meeting requests aimed at dissuading lawmakers from traveling to Taipei. Politicians from Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia, and another unnamed Asian country have been targets of these diplomatic efforts. In some cases, the communication was vague, simply inquiring about travel plans. However, in other instances, the messages were more direct and menacing, even reaching out to political party leaders to intervene and prevent lawmakers from attending the conference.
China’s actions are seen as part of a broader strategy to isolate Taiwan internationally. The Chinese government routinely threatens retaliation against countries and politicians who engage with Taiwan, which has limited formal diplomatic recognition due to Beijing’s influence. This tactic was evident when China downgraded relations with Lithuania and blocked imports from the country after it allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under its name, rather than the more commonly used “Chinese Taipei.”
Despite the pressure, many lawmakers have expressed determination to attend the conference, viewing China’s actions as an unacceptable intrusion into their sovereign decisions. Bolivian Senator Centa Rek described a Chinese diplomat’s call as an “unacceptable intrusion,” interpreting it as a veiled threat. Similarly, Sanela Klarić, a Bosnian parliament member, likened the experience to intimidation tactics she faced during the Bosnian War in the 1990s, which only strengthened her resolve to participate.
The IPAC conference aims to discuss the challenges posed by China’s policies and actions, particularly in terms of democratic values and international relations. Miriam Lexmann, a member of the European Parliament from Slovakia, emphasized the importance of the conference as a platform for exchanging strategies to address these challenges and to show support for Taiwan.
China’s aggressive stance extends beyond diplomatic pressure. Recently, Beijing criticized Taiwan for its annual Han Kuang military drills, accusing Taiwan’s ruling party of seeking independence and escalating tensions. Additionally, China has been successful in peeling away Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, often by promising development aid. This tactic has left Taiwan with only 12 official diplomatic allies, highlighting the island’s precarious international standing.
The situation underscores a significant geopolitical tension, with China asserting its influence and countries worldwide grappling with how to respond to its assertive diplomacy. As IPAC members gather in Taiwan, their presence signifies not only support for the island but also a broader concern about China’s growing influence on the global stage.
This is the kind of pressure that can comes with Chinese investment in a country. China can pull out investment in a country at a whim, because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has no legal hurdles to do so, and no court can enforce a contract the CCP declares null and void. Small countries should surely think before they accept “help” from China.