Taiwan Faces Pressure from China in International Events

Attempts by China to pressure other countries into limiting Taiwan’s participation in international events are becoming more common, according to Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-Lung. His remarks followed the detention of Taiwanese delegates in Kenya, who were denied access to an ocean conference due to alleged Chinese pressure, as stated by Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.

China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to annex it. Recently, Beijing has intensified efforts to restrict Taiwanese officials’ access to events worldwide. In April, Taiwan’s president had to delay a visit to Eswatini when three countries denied him airspace access after pressure from China. Eventually, Eswatini’s king arranged a charter plane for the president’s visit.

The latest incident involved two Taiwanese delegates at the Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa. They were barred entry as their Taiwanese passports were not recognized. The detainees had their passports and mobile phones confiscated and were held for over 20 hours before being allowed to leave. The remaining Taiwanese delegation withdrew from the conference.

Kenya justified its decision to deny entry, with Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei stating Kenya’s policy recognizes only one China. Lin criticized Kenya for distorting the ‘One China’ policy, condemning the obstruction of Taiwanese delegates.

China has not responded to these allegations. For years, China has worked to limit Taiwan’s participation in bodies like the World Health Organization and the World Health Assembly. At the Olympics, Taiwan competes under ‘Chinese Taipei’ due to China’s influence.

Lin noted that China is increasingly pressuring countries, especially in developing regions with Beijing’s economic influence, to exclude Taiwan. He mentioned that Global South nations face Chinese manipulation, with some democratic countries resisting.

The annual oceans conference hosted by Kenya seeks to address crucial ocean issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and pollution. This is Africa’s first time hosting the event, positioning the continent as a key player in global ocean governance. Hundreds of participants from Africa, the U.S., the European Union, and climate-vulnerable nations are involved.

Sing’oei explained that individuals with Taiwanese passports typically cannot enter Kenya, highlighting the country’s stance on formal state meetings. China and Taiwan have had separate governance since 1949 after the civil war. While China claims Taiwan, the island operates as a democracy, evolving from martial law to a multiparty system.