Chinese Diplomats Pressure Lawmakers Ahead of Taiwan Summit
- Chinese diplomats are exerting pressure on lawmakers from six different countries to prevent them from attending a summit focused on Taiwan.
- This move is part of China's broader strategy to isolate the self-governed island.
- The diplomatic tactic highlights the ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan as well as the geopolitical dynamics in the region.
BEIJING – In a concerted effort to deter participation in a Taiwan-focused summit, Chinese diplomats have reportedly pressured lawmakers from at least six countries, including Bolivia, Colombia, and Slovakia. Participants have received urgent communications, including texts and calls, urging them to reconsider their travel plans to the self-governed island. The summit, organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, aims to address how democracies engage with Beijing and is set to begin on Monday. Lawmakers have described the pressure as an attempt to isolate Taiwan, with some receiving direct messages from Chinese officials. Sanela Klarić, a Bosnian parliament member, recounted that a Chinese diplomat contacted her party's president, advising against her trip. Despite the pressure, Klarić expressed that it only strengthened her resolve to attend. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the situation, but Luke de Pulford, director of the alliance, noted that the level of pressure from Chinese officials is unprecedented and deviates from standard diplomatic practices. The summit is expected to attract lawmakers from 25 countries, featuring high-level discussions with Taiwanese officials. This event comes amid China's ongoing efforts to diminish Taiwan's international presence, often using development aid to lure away its diplomatic allies. De Pulford suggested that the coercive tactics employed by Beijing may be more effective against smaller nations, yet they have inadvertently galvanized participants' commitment to attend. Miriam Lexmann, a Slovakian MEP, highlighted that the pressure from Chinese diplomats only reinforced her motivation to participate in the summit, emphasizing the importance of standing in solidarity with Taiwan.