Lawmakers from four continents arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday in a show of support for the self-ruled island, in a move that challenged Beijing’s efforts to limit Taiwan’s international engagement.
The visit by members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), made up of legislators from Asia, Europe and Oceania, came as the group expanded its network with the addition of six Taiwanese lawmakers.
IPAC said the delegation’s trip was aimed at strengthening international backing for Taiwan and rejecting what it described as China’s campaign to isolate the island diplomatically.
The lawmakers held meetings with senior Taiwanese officials, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu.
“Whatever actions the PRC takes, Taiwan’s friends are committed to ensure that the door of welcome stays open, and indeed, is opened wider,” IPAC said in a statement, referring to China by its official name, the People’s Republic of China.
The alliance said the visit took place amid increasing pressure from Beijing against Taiwan and international organisations that maintain ties with the island.
IPAC also announced the admission of six Taiwanese legislators from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) into its cross-party parliamentary network.
Taiwanese IPAC co-chair Representative Gau-Tsu Janice Chen said the move showed Taiwan’s readiness to deepen cooperation with lawmakers globally.
“We are pleased to welcome more colleagues from our Legislative Yuan to IPAC. Taiwan is ready to send a concrete message of what we want and work with lawmakers around the world,” Chen said.
Another Taiwanese co-chair, Representative Yun Fan, said the alliance had consistently encouraged participation from across Taiwan’s political spectrum.
“It is encouraging to welcome more colleagues to join the network and utilise parliamentary diplomacy for Taiwan,” Yun said.
The delegation included IPAC co-chairs Priyanka Chaturvedi of India, Jan Paternotte of the Netherlands and Helen White of New Zealand, along with lawmakers from Britain, Ukraine and Czechia.
Founded in 2020 by politicians from eight democracies, IPAC now includes more than 300 lawmakers from 45 parliaments, according to the organisation.
The group says it seeks to promote democracy, protect human rights and address challenges to the rules-based international order linked to China’s growing global influence.
