A group of six parliamentarians from the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) faced criticism from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for their visit to the waters near Kinmen. Taiwanese legislator Fan Yun pointed out on the 12th that IPAC members are well aware of the various intimidation tactics commonly used by the CCP, so the criticism from the Taiwan Affairs Office was expected.
IPAC members from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, India, New Zealand, and Ukraine visited Kinmen on the 9th, riding on a coast guard vessel to survey the security situation in the waters near Kinmen and to understand the harassments by Chinese coast guard vessels. They reiterated the importance of Taiwan Strait security to the global economy and emphasized their commitment to ensuring peace, stability, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region. This visit marked the first instance of a group of international parliamentarians visiting the front lines in the Taiwan Strait.
Spokesperson for the CCP Taiwan Affairs Office, Chen Binhua, criticized IPAC on the 10th, labeling them as anti-China elements and asserting that the Democratic Progressive Party’s “self-superior” strategy is doomed to fail.
On the 11th, Luke de Pulford, co-founder and executive director of IPAC, posted a statement on social media regarding their mission in Kinmen, expressing his long-standing desire to bring political figures to Kinmen for a visit. He believed that firsthand experiences would enhance the awareness of foreign parliaments. This trip was his initiative.
Accompanied by Taiwanese co-chairs of IPAC, legislators Fan Yun and Chen Jao-tzu, the IPAC delegation boarded a 100-ton coast guard vessel from Kinmen’s Shuitou Pier on the 9th, embarking on a visit to Kinmen with locals.
Fan Yun took to Facebook on the 12th to share her experience, mentioning that some reporters asked her about the Taiwan Affairs Office’s accusation that IPAC’s visit to Kinmen was “manipulated by the DPP government”. She emphasized that IPAC, comprising over 300 parliamentarians from more than 40 countries, was not under the control of any single country, government, or party.
She expressed her honor to have personally accompanied the parliamentarians from six countries and witnessed their dedication despite the rough weather conditions inquiring into the details of Taiwan’s defense work in the Taiwan Strait.
Recently, given the increasing frequency of provocations by the Chinese coast guard, Fan Yun noted that Taiwanese coast guard vessels would confront Chinese vessels one-on-one if necessary, navigating alongside them in stormy weather to prevent them from approaching Taiwan’s territorial waters.
“When IPAC members learned about the arduousness of the task, they also inquired about whether the frontline coast guard personnel had sufficient resources. Both I and Chen Jao-tzu witnessed the hard work and risks faced by the coast guard and promised to supervise and ensure that they have ample resources,” Fan Yun said.
As the co-chair representing Taiwan in IPAC, Fan Yun expressed gratitude to the six parliamentarians from IPAC for making the long journey to the frontline in Taiwan’s waters to personally understand China’s illegal intrusions. She emphasized that this international solidarity to safeguard freedom is crucial for Taiwan and Kinmen.
She believed that the IPAC Secretariat and the parliamentarians are well aware of the CCP’s usual intimidation tactics, hence the fierce criticism from the Taiwan Affairs Office was within expectations.