RightsCon Summit in Zambia Canceled Due to Chinese Pressure Over Taiwanese Activists
The RightsCon summit, an international human rights conference organized by the U.S.-based advocacy group Access Now, was canceled in Zambia following pressure from China. The conference, which was scheduled to take place next week, was called off after the Zambian government, influenced by China, demanded the exclusion of Taiwanese activists. Access Now stated that the Zambian authorities wanted to ensure the conference topics aligned with the country's national values and policies. The summit, which focuses on human rights and technology, was expected to host over 2,600 participants in person and 1,100 online from more than 150 countries. The cancellation follows a pattern of Chinese influence in Africa, as seen in a recent incident where Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini was obstructed by Chinese diplomatic pressure. 
