Image Credit: Taiwan News
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) will hold its fourth annual forum on July 30 in Taipei, with a focus on ensuring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The event will feature prominent speeches from President Lai Ching-te, who has been invited to deliver a televised address, and Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, who will speak at the annual press conference. This forum is part of IPAC’s ongoing efforts to confront Chinese influence and promote democratic values globally.
Previous forums organized by IPAC have taken place in Rome, Washington, D.C., and Prague. This year’s forum is expected to be the largest yet, with forty-nine legislators, key political figures from twenty-three countries, and representatives from the European Parliament. Notable guests include Australian Senator Deborah O’Neill, Czech Parliamentary Representative Eva Decroix, and French Senator Olivier Cadic, who also serves as vice president of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Armed Forces Committee.
In a significant development, IPAC has announced the inclusion of six new member countries this year: Colombia, Iraq, Malawi, Solomon Islands, The Gambia, and Uruguay. This expansion underscores the growing international consensus on addressing Chinese political and economic influence. Formed in 2020 by the European Parliament and legislative bodies worldwide, IPAC is dedicated to countering Chinese threats to democratic states through advocacy for legislative measures against China’s political and economic infiltration. Including new member countries highlights the alliance’s increasing global reach and commitment to defending democratic institutions and values against external pressures.