Global Liberal Alliance Condemns China's Transnational Repression Against Taiwanese Nationals

International body passes resolution supporting Taiwan's democratic resilience and calling for stronger protections against Beijing's coercion.

The Liberal International, a global federation of liberal and progressive democratic political parties, has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning China's transnational repression targeting Taiwanese individuals. The resolution was proposed by Legislator Fan Yun of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and passed during the Liberal International's 209th Executive Committee Meeting held in The Hague, Netherlands.

Fan Yun, who also serves as the vice president of the Liberal International and represented the DPP at the meeting, put forth an emergency resolution to support fellow DPP Legislator Puma Shen and to actively counter transnational repression.

The condemnation follows actions by China's Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau, which recently listed Shen as "wanted" for alleged crimes of "separatism" related to his advocacy for "Taiwanese independence." Additionally, state-run China Central Television aired a segment suggesting Interpol should pursue Shen.

The meeting in The Hague brought together nearly 170 representatives from liberal parties and democracy advocates across 48 countries spanning Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. According to Fan Yun, all representatives endorsed the motion to "counter transnational repression." Notably, another representative proposed an amendment to specify the wording as "transnational repression by the People’s Republic of China on Taiwanese nationals," thereby explicitly identifying China as the source of the threat to Taiwan.

The adopted resolution outlines eight key points. It condemns China's ongoing transnational repression and urges all member parties and governments to enhance their legal frameworks to safeguard individuals from such actions. The resolution also calls on members to actively counter China's political coercion aimed at silencing Taiwanese voices.

Furthermore, the resolution expresses support for Taiwan's democratic resilience and its significant role in defending global democratic values. It encourages the development of international mechanisms designed to monitor, prevent, and respond to transnational repression.

The international community is called upon to firmly uphold the rules-based international order and advocate for peaceful diplomacy concerning Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait. The resolution also emphasizes the need to clarify the legal boundaries of UN Resolution 2758 through multilateral cooperation, enabling Taiwan's meaningful participation in relevant international organizations without disrupting the existing status quo.

Finally, the resolution advocates for countries to prioritize dialogue, international law, and conflict prevention as essential measures to ensure regional security and stability.

Puma Shen, who also attended the meeting in The Hague, shared on social media that a pivotal moment in the resolution's passage was the amendment to specifically highlight China's transnational repression on "Taiwanese nationals." Shen noted that this precise wording, referring to "Taiwanese nationals" rather than "the People of Taiwan" or "Residents of Taiwan," not only adds accuracy but also signifies international recognition of Taiwan's distinct subjectivity.