Forty-nine lawmakers from 24 countries gathered in Taiwan to discuss the rising tensions between China and the democratically ruled island. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) organized the two-day summit, which included the largest-ever foreign parliamentary delegation to Taiwan.
During the conference, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te emphasized that China’s threat to any country is a threat to the world. He vowed that Taiwan would support its democratic partners to protect them from authoritarian expansion. The increased international attention on Taiwan has led to a surge in visits to the island, especially since former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit nearly two years ago.
Despite its own military, currency, and democratic government system, Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations and has limited formal diplomatic allies. China opposes any international engagement with Taiwan, considering it a part of its territory. This opposition has led to a decrease in the number of countries with official ties to Taiwan, which currently has 12 diplomatic allies.
China has conducted numerous military exercises around Taiwan over the past two years, along with daily military harassment involving fighter jets, naval vessels, coast guard ships, and drones. The country’s increased rhetoric on unification being inevitable has raised concerns among attending lawmakers at the conference.
During the summit, lawmakers adopted a model motion to counter China’s interpretation of United Nations Resolution 2758. This resolution replaced Taiwan with the People’s Republic of China as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in 1971. While some countries reject China’s sovereignty claim over Taiwan based on this resolution, concerns remain about China using it as a pretext for military action against Taiwan.
The conference also focused on the potential economic impact of a conflict over Taiwan on countries worldwide. The “Operation Mist” campaign aims to encourage governments to assess the economic consequences of a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. A conflict between China and Taiwan could cost the global economy up to $10 trillion, according to Bloomberg Economics.
Despite efforts to raise awareness about Taiwan’s situation, some lawmakers faced pressure from Chinese diplomats not to attend the conference. The Chinese government’s attempts to interfere were condemned by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry and deemed illegitimate by IPAC.
Experts believe that the summit provides an important diplomatic channel for Taiwan to engage with other countries. Lawmakers attending the conference are expected to bring back insights and proposals to their respective parliaments to address the challenges faced by Taiwan and reduce the threat of conflict in the region.
Overall, the summit in Taiwan could have a significant impact on how countries engage with Taiwan and address the escalating tensions with China. It serves as an opportunity for Taiwan to showcase its challenges and seek support from the international community in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
