Ireland’s foreign ministry has banned the country’s officials from attending Taiwan’s upcoming National Day celebrations. The decision was made to avoid diplomatic issues with Beijing.
China has been pressuring Taiwan’s space in the international community since President Tsai Ing-wen took office earlier in May. Beijing is unhappy that the Tsai administration has declined to acknowledge the so-called 1992 Consensus. This was a tacit agreement on “one China, with respective interpretations” between the Chinese Communist Party and Taiwan’s then ruling Kuomintang.
Premier Lin Chuan has said the Irish government’s decision to boycott National Day means a loss for both nations. Mainland Affairs Council minister Katherine Chang has said the decision is unacceptable to Taiwan.
Foreign Minister David Lee has said some members of the Irish parliament have protested the decision. He also said that this is not the first time a European country has distanced itself from Taiwan due to pressure from China.