China’s infiltration has extended to local politics in various countries and the need to enhance local authorities’ capacity to address Chinese infiltration is an urgent necessity.

On July 30-31, 2024, FNF Taiwan and the Foundation´s Global Innovation Hub co-hosted the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) Summit in Taipei. The Summit brought together 49 lawmakers from 24 countries, including members of the European Parliament, to discuss how governments worldwide can act together to counter the influence and propaganda posed by China.

Taiwan’s President Chin-te Lai and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao – members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), an FNF partner – spoke at the Summit. Several participants received intimidating behaviors from the PRC before they came to the Summit which were condemned during the Summit.

Lawmakers discussed strategies to address human rights challenges posed by China, such as “overseas police stations,” which are disguised as common surveillance tools of the Chinese diaspora and overseas students. Lawmakers also urged collaboration to curb forced labour in the Xin-jian province of China. The Summit passed a resolution stressing that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not establish the PRC’s sovereignty over Taiwan.

The IPAC Summit also included a luncheon speech on the topic of defending the freedom of the press. The international legal team of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong media tycoon and political prisoner, and Nobel Prize and FNF Freedom Flame Award winner Maria Ressa were among the prominent speakers on this issue. A “Civil Society Market Place” was set up as result of the discussions. 15 civil society organizations introduced their works, advocating human rights in China, democracy in Hong Kong, digital rights, and civil defense.