Foreign Ministry Condemns Cancellation of RightsCon Summit in Zambia
RightsCon 2026, a major summit for human and digital rights, has been canceled in Zambia following reported pressure from Beijing. Organizers say Zambian officials were pressured by Chinese diplomats to exclude Taiwanese participants and alter event topics. Organizers opted to cancel the event entirely. Taiwan’s foreign ministry condemned the move as "transnational repression," while groups like Human Rights Watch expressed alarm over the threat to freedom of expression.
RightsCon 2026 Canceled Amid Reported Chinese Pressure
REPORTER:
RightsCon 2026 will not be happening this year. The summit for human and civil rights in the digital age was meant to be held in Zambia, but was cancelled last-minute, reportedly due to Chinese pressure.
REPORTER:
In a statement provided to TaiwanPlus, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it “expresses its strongest condemnation of China’s transnational repression and its egregious actions undermining international human rights exchanges.” It also said it supports and appreciates the affected organizations for standing by their values and showing “moral courage.”
REPORTER:
In a statement given to NGO Access Now on Friday, organizers said they received a phone call from Zambian government officials, saying diplomats from China objected to Taiwanese participation in the event. Officials were reportedly told to exclude Taiwanese participants and change specific topics for the event to go ahead. Instead, organizers canceled, saying Beijing’s demands ran “counter” to the event’s principles.
REPORTER:
It comes as President Lai Ching-te visits Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa – Eswatini, a trip initially postponed after China reportedly pushed three countries into blocking his plane’s flyover privileges.
REPORTER:
Beijing is a major investor in Zambia and views Taiwan as part of its territory, and tries to block Taiwan’s international participation. NGOs are condemning China’s latest actions, with Human Rights Watch saying the move raises concerns over freedom of expression.
Scott Huang and Lery Hiciano, for TaiwanPlus.
