Taipei (Taiwan News) — The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) will hold its fourth annual forum on Tuesday (July 30) in Taipei.

IPAC has invited President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) to give a televised speech, while Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) will speak at the annual press conference. This year’s forum, focusing on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, will take place in Taipei, according to a press release.

Previous IPAC forums have been held in Rome, Washington, D.C., and Prague. 

Forty-nine legislators and key political figures from 23 countries and the European Parliament will attend the summit. Guests include Australian Senator Deborah O’Neill, Czech Parliamentary Representative Eva Decroix, and French Senator Olivier Cadic, who is also vice president of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Armed Forces Committee.

In addition to helping organize the forum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will host a welcome banquet with Hsiao and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光). MOFA will also facilitate meetings with Taiwanese legislators and arrange tours of the high-tech industry to enhance understanding of Taiwan’s economic and political development, cross-strait relations, and its role in the global supply chain.

MOFA condemned Chinese attempts to pressure IPAC members into boycotting the forum. According to the Associated Press, Chinese diplomats tried to schedule meetings on conflicting dates with IPAC members and urged them not to attend the summit.

Chinese diplomats contacted legislators from at least six countries directly and applied pressure through their party leaders in some cases. IPAC issued a statement on Sunday condemning China’s interference, describing it as an attempt to “curtail democratic privilege” and undermine Taiwan’s right to engage in “legitimate diplomatic exchanges.”

In response, IPAC announced that this year’s summit would be the largest to date, welcoming six new member countries: Colombia, Iraq, Malawi, Solomon Islands, The Gambia, and Uruguay. Formed in 2020 by the European Parliament and legislative bodies around the world, IPAC aims to counter Chinese threats to democratic states by advocating legislative measures against China’s political and economic infiltration.