IPAC summit leaders warn of China's transnational repression

At the 2026 Kaohsiung Forum for Indo-Pacific Security, international leaders and officials raised alarms regarding China's expanding influence and use of legal and physical tactics to suppress dissent.

Gen Nakatani, a former Japanese Defense Minister and co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), condemned China's practice of “transnational repression.” He warned that Beijing is using legal mechanisms, specifically the recently implemented National Unity Promotion Act, to extend its criminal jurisdiction into other nations, thereby infringing upon national sovereignty. This follows a violent attack on Japanese political commentator Akio Yabe in Taiwan, which officials have characterized as an act of transnational repression.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te emphasized Taiwan's role as a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific peace and pledged to build “non-red supply chains” to counter authoritarian expansion. Simultaneously, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council warned of increasing Chinese interference in Taiwan's upcoming 2026 local elections, noting that Beijing may use various exchange methods to manipulate voter perception and democratic processes.

IPAC issued a statement condemning China's legal measures as tools for political censorship and the creation of a “chilling effect” globally, calling for increased intelligence sharing and diplomatic countermeasures among democratic nations.