Chinese Diplomats Pressure Lawmakers to Skip Taiwan Summit

Chinese diplomats are urging lawmakers from six countries to skip the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China's summit in Taiwan. Lawmakers reported receiving texts, calls, and urgent meeting requests aimed at preventing their attendance. The summit focuses on how democracies approach Beijing. Participants view the pressure as an effort to isolate Taiwan.

Chinese diplomats are urging lawmakers from six countries to skip the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China's summit in Taiwan, participants informed The Associated Press.

Lawmakers from Bolivia, Colombia, Slovakia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one unidentified Asian country have reported receiving messages, calls, and urgent meeting requests intended to conflict with their plans to attend the summit. These lawmakers see the pressure as an effort to isolate the self-governed island.

The summit, which starts Monday, has attracted participants from 35 countries, including three lawmakers who spoke to AP about receiving messages from Chinese diplomats questioning their travel plans. Cases of more direct intimidation were also reported, with some lawmakers being urged by Chinese diplomats to cancel their trips.

(With inputs from agencies.)