The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) summit on cross-Strait policy is set to take place in Taipei on the 30th. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) announced that President Lai Ching-te and Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin will deliver speeches at the event. The ministry strongly condemned the despicable actions of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in attempting to obstruct officials from attending the summit in Taiwan, while also expressing gratitude for IPAC’s steadfast support for Taiwan.
In a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it was stated that the 4th annual meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) is scheduled to be held in Taipei on July 30 with the participation of 49 legislators and officials from 23 countries and the European Parliament, including Australian Senator Deborah O’Neill, Czech MP Eva Decroix, and Olivier Cadic, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the French Senate. The ministry extended a warm welcome to the distinguished attendees.
Ahead of the summit, the CCP reportedly exerted pressure on IPAC members to prevent officials from attending the event in Taiwan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) strongly condemned these actions and expressed appreciation for IPAC’s unwavering support for democracy and Taiwan.
The IPAC Taipei summit will feature President Lai Ching-te delivering a speech that will be live-streamed throughout the event. Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin will also address the international press conference at the summit. In the past, IPAC has held annual meetings in Rome, Washington D.C., and Prague, and this year, Taipei was selected as the venue with a focus on “Peace and Stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
In addition to organizing the summit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will arrange meetings for the IPAC delegation with Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin, a welcome dinner hosted by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Chang, interactions with legislators, and visits to high-tech companies in Taiwan to gain insights into the country’s political and economic development, cross-Strait relations, and its pivotal role in the global supply chain.
IPAC is scheduled to hold an international press conference at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on the afternoon of the 30th, with Vice President Hsiao Mei-chin delivering remarks followed by summary statements from members such as Indian MP Sujeet Kumar, Bolivian Senator Cecilia Requena, Japanese MP Gen Nakatani, and Solomon Islands MP Peter Kenilorea Jr. The press conference will be moderated by Australian Senator Deborah O’Neill and responses to questions will be provided by Japanese MP Gen Nakatani, European Parliament member Miriam Lexmann, and former head of the European Parliament’s delegation on China relations Reinhard Bütikofer.
According to reports from the Associated Press, IPAC members from several countries received contacts from Chinese embassies using intimidation tactics to dissuade them from attending the IPAC annual summit in Taipei. At least eight parliamentarians from five countries disclosed receiving emails and/or phone calls from Chinese diplomats before departing for Taipei. In some cases, party leaders of these parliamentarians were also contacted to exert additional pressure. One parliamentarian was invited by China to visit, thus diverting their planned trip to Taipei.
IPAC has issued a statement condemning and opposing CCP’s interference in their annual summit. Representatives should have the freedom to visit other places and support their beliefs without hindrance. IPAC emphasized that these actions are a normal exercise of their rights and responsibilities as representatives. The CCP’s obstruction of the IPAC summit is seen as a blatant violation of the democratic rights of other countries and a denial of Taiwan’s legitimate right to engage in diplomatic exchanges. Given the abnormal nature of these interactions between sovereign nations, IPAC members reserve the right to formally complain to their respective foreign ministries.
IPAC announced that on July 30, their 4th annual summit will take place in Taipei with 48 bipartisan parliamentarians from 24 countries across five continents participating, making it the largest parliamentary delegation in history. In response to CCP’s intimidation, IPAC decided to announce their largest expansion to date, welcoming six new countries to the alliance: Colombia, Iraq, Malawi, Solomon Islands, Gambia, and Uruguay.
Established in 2020, IPAC is an alliance of parliamentarians from around the world focusing on the challenges posed by the CCP to democratic countries and advocating for legislation to prevent political and economic infiltration from China. The alliance currently comprises around 250 members from 34 parliamentary bodies and the European Parliament.