China pressures IPAC lawmakers to not attend Taipei summit: AP

China pressures IPAC lawmakers to not attend Taipei summit: AP

2024-07-29

The annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, or IPAC, will be held in Taiwan for the first time. Ahead of opening day, the Associated Press revealed that several IPAC members were pressured by China to not participate. According to the report, eight lawmakers from at least five countries were contacted by Chinese diplomatic officials. But the pressure tactics backfired, with members only becoming more determined to join the event.

Speaking at Taipei Guest House, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim welcomes members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, or IPAC.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice president
We face significant challenges in all of these areas, particularly the geopolitical situation where Beijing is aggressively expanding their military presence. So your presence here is at a very important moment.

Forty-eight cross-party lawmakers from 23 countries are here to attend IPAC’s annual summit. They are the largest parliamentary delegation ever to visit Taiwan.

Lin Ching
FTV reporter
IPAC, or the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, will hold its annual summit in Taiwan for the first time. The event opens on Tuesday at the Grand Hyatt Taipei.

This year’s summit will focus on peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. There will be special Taiwan forum, during which President Lai Ching-te will give a speech.

According to the Associated Press, eight lawmakers from at least five countries, including Colombia and Slovakia, faced Chinese pressure to not attend the summit. They said they received calls and emails from Chinese embassy officials. Some found that their party leadership had been contacted. But the pressure campaign backfired: One Bosnian lawmaker said it only “steeled her determination” to go to Taiwan.

Founded in 2020, IPAC has lawmakers from dozens of countries and the European Parliament. It seeks to safeguard democracy against the Chinese threat. It also promotes legislation to challenge China’s political and economic influence.

Wang Ting-yu
DPP lawmaker
IPAC is a global alliance of lawmakers that promotes human rights, freedom, and democracy. Today, China poses a threat to the freedom, democracy, and normal international relations of other countries.

Defying Chinese pressure, IPAC’s lawmakers departed for Taipei, standing united to defend democracy.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

IPAC峰會首度在台灣舉行美媒:中國施壓多國議員別來

2024-07-29

由33國和歐洲議會，超過250跨黨派國會議員組成的"對中政策跨國議會聯盟"(IPAC)，成立目的就是關注、改革各國的對中政策。今年峰會首度到台灣舉辦，23國、48位議員創規模最大議員訪台團。但傳出至少5國議員遭到中國施壓，要求不要參加，卻造成反效果。有議員強調，這反而更堅定他赴台決心。

在台北賓館接待"對中政策跨國議會聯盟" 成員，副總統蕭美琴歡迎各國國會議員訪台。

[[副總統蕭美琴]]
“在台灣我們面臨重大挑戰，在所有這些區域，特別是地緣政治的局勢，北京正在積極擴張他們的軍事存在，所以你們的出現，是在一個非常重要的時刻。”

這回來台的國會議員達23國、48位跨黨派議員參加，是有史以來規模最大的國會議員訪台團。

[[民視記者林靜]]
“對中政策跨國議會聯盟IPAC年度峰會，首度在台灣舉辦，週二將在台北君悅酒店登場。”

今年主題，更聚焦台海和平穩定，峰會特別設有"台灣會議"環節，總統賴清德更受邀發表演說。

但"美聯社"披露，中國外交官向哥倫比亞、斯洛伐克等至少5國、8位國會議員施壓，有的接到中國大使館訊息詢問；有的甚至直接連絡議員所屬黨主席。結果引發反彈，一位波士尼亞的議員就回應，中國的壓力，反而更堅定了他前來台灣的決心。

2020年成立的IPAC，是由各國國會及歐洲議會議員所組成的聯盟，關注中國對民主國家造成的挑戰，並推動各國立法防止中國政治及經濟滲透。

[[立委(民) 王定宇]]
“IPAC可以說是一個主張人權、自由、民主，多國組成的國會議員聯盟。中國正在威脅破壞其他國家的民主、自由，跟正常(國家)的往來。”

正因各國議員不畏中方壓力訪台，也讓中國見識到民主盟友的團結及韌性。

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A woman hands over her prescription but leaves the pharmacy empty-handed. That’s because her prescription is labeled “Do Not Substitute,” meaning that the drug listed can’t be replaced with equivalent medications. To save patients a trip in vain, the National Health Insurance Administration will require dentists to explain their reasoning for not allowing substitutes, starting in October. If no reason is provided, the pharmacy will be permitted to dispense generics.

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The policy allows for more flexibility in prescriptions. It can also make it more likely that patients follow doctors’ orders, and reduce the likelihood that they interrupt the treatment, mitigating potential health risks. So this initial trial will roll out for 6,900 dental clinics around Taiwan.

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