Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, on Tuesday welcomed dozens of international lawmakers who support sanctions against China over aggression on the island – a show of support for Taipei amid military pressure from Beijing. .
The unannounced meeting of about 60 lawmakers from Europe, Asia and Africa at Taiwan’s diplomatic mansion in the US capital of Washington – called the Twin Oaks – is the latest move in Taipei’s efforts to persuade other democracies to take a stand against China since that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has raised concerns that Beijing might try to take the island by force.
The group, made up of members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) meeting in Washington this week, is expected to sign a pledge to pressure their governments to adopt “greater deterrence against military or coercive actions” by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) against Taiwan. , according to a draft seen by Reuters.
“We will campaign to ensure that our governments signal to the PRC that military aggression against Taiwan will cost Beijing dearly. Economic and political measures, including significant sanctions, should be considered to prevent military escalation and ensure that trade and other exchanges with Taiwan can continue unhindered,” the draft read.
He added that their countries’ ties to Taiwan would not be determined by Beijing, and that they would push to increase mutual visits by lawmakers.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring Taiwan under Beijing’s control and has not ruled out the use of force. He is expected to secure a third five-year leadership term at a Communist Party congress next month. The Taiwan government vehemently rejects China’s sovereignty claims.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Washington was considering sanctions against China to stop it from invading Taiwan, with the European Union under diplomatic pressure from Taipei to do the same.
Hsiao, speaking to lawmakers – who according to a guest list seen by Reuters came from countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Lithuania, Ukraine, New Zealand and the Netherlands – told the meeting: “It is important to demonstrate to the “bully” that we also have friends.”
“We are not trying to provoke the ‘bully’, but we will not bow to his pressure either,” he added.
She received two Ukrainian representatives at the event.
“We certainly hope that as the international community stands with Ukraine, that the international community stands with Taiwan as well, and that together we can prevent further aggression from China,” he said.
The IPAC pledge, due to be signed on Wednesday, also calls on countries to protect supply chains from forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region and apply sanctions to Chinese officials for abuses in Hong Kong and Chinese companies that support the Russian military industry.
China’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source: CNN Brasil
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