> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://goodoil.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # China Cancels Pride Event in Taiwan - URL: https://goodoil.news/china-cancels-pride-event-in-taiwan/ - Published: 2022-09-27T00:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2022-09-26T06:56:59.000Z - Author: Guest Post - Tags: China Politics, Politics, World Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-16 22:48 **Kuan-Wei Chen** [McGill University](https://theconversation.com/institutions/mcgill-university-827?ref=goodoil.news) *Mr. Kuan-Wei (David) Chen is the Managing Editor of the McGill Manual on International Law Applicable to Military Uses of Outer Space (McGill Manual, https://www.mcgill.ca/milamos/)* --- ![](https://images.theconversation.com/files/483858/original/file-20220911-57216-izi84q.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=53%2C431%2C6000%2C3458&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip) The Taipei city hall building is lit up with Pride colours during the annual Taiwan LGBTQ event in Taipei, Taiwan, in October 2021\. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) WorldPride 2025 would have been the first time a global [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) event was held in Asia](https://medium.com/interpride/press-release-worldpride-2025-bid-won-by-kaohsiung-pride-in-a-historic-vote-for-the-global-and-df593dbc67eb?ref=goodoil.news). Originally scheduled to be held in Taiwan, the event was [abruptly cancelled in August due to disagreement over the naming of the event](https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/08/17/worldpride-2025-taiwan/?ref=goodoil.news). Despite winning the bid to host the pride event under the name WorldPride Taiwan, organizers [InterPride suddenly requested that the word “Taiwan” be dropped altogether](https://hongkongfp.com/2022/08/12/international-lgbtq-event-in-taiwan-cancelled-after-organisers-ask-for-islands-name-to-be-dropped/?ref=goodoil.news). This can be [traced to external pressure from neighbouring China](https://globalvoices.org/2022/08/17/taiwan-withdraws-from-hosting-worldpride-2025-over-naming-controversy/?ref=goodoil.news). #### Loss for LGBTQ+ rights The cancellation of the WorldPride 2025 event in Taiwan is not only a loss for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia. It’s also emblematic of the influence of authoritarian regimes worldwide. InterPride admitted as much when it announced that it’s seeking [consultative status with the United Nations](https://twitter.com/InterPride/status/1460562585263161344?s=20&t=U9c0rvUJCQcRmtgpXx9pvw&ref=goodoil.news), a status that would give it the same footing as other [non-governmental organizations to take part in multilateral discussions on economic, social and human rights issues](https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/civil-society/ecosoc-status.html?ref=goodoil.news). However, China repeatedly abuses its position at the UN [to prevent groups that are critical of China from receiving UN accreditation](https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/09/27/china-is-choking-civil-society-at-the-united-nations/?ref=goodoil.news). A country that continues to [roll back political and civil liberties](https://freedomhouse.org/country/china/freedom-world/2021?ref=goodoil.news), [crack down on “sissy” culture](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-09-02/china-bans-sissy-men-tv-new-crackdown-culture?ref=goodoil.news) and [sexual minorities](https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2022/06/23/the-government-cares-very-little-for-the-rights-of-sexual-minorities-chinas-lgbt-crackdown?ref=goodoil.news) and [stifle the #MeToo movement](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/china-crackdown-on-metoo-movement-extends-far-beyond-tennis-star-peng-shuai?ref=goodoil.news) is effectively dictating to the world where a pride event can be held, as well as which NGOs are allowed to be represented at the UN. Taiwan was the [first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage](https://www.npr.org/2019/05/17/724222598/taiwans-parliament-legalizes-same-sex-marriage-a-first-in-asia?ref=goodoil.news). Yet it was denied the right to hold a global pride event. This is not the first time that China has interfered and tried to marginalize Taiwan’s existence as an independent nation-state. ![Two brides in wedding gowns exchange rings.](https://images.theconversation.com/files/483860/original/file-20220911-13-tcpwv5.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip) Taiwanese same-sex couples exchange rings at a wedding party in Taipei, Taiwan, in May 2019, a week after Taiwan legalized same-sex marriage. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) Beijing claims Taiwan is [“an inalienable part” of China](https://english.www.gov.cn/atts/stream/files/62f34db4c6d028997c37ca98?ref=goodoil.news), which, as the [recent military drills after American politician Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan are aimed to demonstrate](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-begins-live-fire-drills-taiwan-pelosi-visit-rcna41461?ref=goodoil.news), must be [“reunified with the Motherland,” with force if necessary](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-58854081?ref=goodoil.news). At China’s insistence, Taiwan is not a member of international organizations such as the World Health Organization. This is to the detriment of the rest of the world. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, might have been contained more effectively if the world had heeded [Taiwan’s warning of human-to-human transmission as early as Dec. 31, 2019](https://time.com/5826025/taiwan-who-trump-coronavirus-covid19/?ref=goodoil.news). [Many experts](https://theconversation.com/how-taiwan-beat-covid-19-new-study-reveals-clues-to-its-success-158900?ref=goodoil.news) and governmental organizations, including the G7, said the “[international community should be able to benefit from the experience of all partners, including Taiwan’s successful contribution to the tackling of the COVID-19 pandemic](https://www.international.gc.ca/news-nouvelles/2021/2021-05-05-g7-communique.aspx?lang=eng&ref=goodoil.news).” #### Matters of global concern Similarly, Taiwan is not permitted to be a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization, despite the fact that ensuring aviation security and safety, and addressing the environmental impact of aviation, are matters of global concern and [“no country can be left behind.”](https://www.icao.int/about-icao/nclb/Pages/default.aspx?ref=goodoil.news) Taiwan’s exclusion extends to other vital areas that require international co-operation, including [combating international terrorism and crime](https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy%5Ffiles/files/publication/150105%5FGlaser%5FTaiwanMarginalizedRole%5FWEB.pdf?ref=goodoil.news) and [global efforts to tackle climate change](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2017/11/21/how-taiwan-is-edging-into-the-u-n-climate-talks-despite-china/?sh=528ed4642d36&ref=goodoil.news). Chinese pressure goes as far as the erasure of [any mention of Taiwan at the Olympics](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/02/west-colluding-erasure-taiwan/?ref=goodoil.news), attempts to [censor Taiwan’s participation at events like the Cannes film festival](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cannes-2015-taiwanese-anger-director-795590/?ref=goodoil.news) and even to end [Taiwan’s membership in an international bird conservation group](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-12/birdlife-international-taiwan-china-wild-bird-federation-split/12742988?ref=goodoil.news). ![Protesters wearing masks hold protest signs and coloured hoops representing the Olympic rings.](https://images.theconversation.com/files/483861/original/file-20220911-57216-w6ekbu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip) Human rights groups call for the boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in Taipei, Taiwan, in January 2022\. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying) These attempts to marginalize Taiwan and [dictate its participation in global organizations](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/china-taiwan-canada-diplomatic-relations-parliamentarian-fall-trip-1.6560219?ref=goodoil.news) is oppressive and unjust. And it doesn’t end there. Together with Russia, China has not hidden the fact that [it wishes to see international relations “enter a new era”](http://en.kremlin.ru/supplement/5770?ref=goodoil.news) and [to rewrite rules-based order in its image](https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2021/12/china-wants-rule-world-controlling-rules/620890/?ref=goodoil.news). Such efforts extend to [championing around the world the idea of total government control over the internet](https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-china-watcher/2022/07/21/china-launches-new-bid-for-internet-dominance-00047037?ref=goodoil.news), and [thwarting international attempts to investigate the origins of COVID-19](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/will-world-ever-solve-mystery-covid-19s-origin?ref=goodoil.news). Even [independent efforts of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang](https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/14/un-rights-chief-again-promises-xinjiang-report?ref=goodoil.news) have been stonewalled, and [published only after much delay and redaction at the behest of Beijing](https://www.economist.com/china/2022/09/01/a-long-awaited-un-report-condemns-chinas-actions-in-xinjiang?ref=goodoil.news). #### Corporations give in to censorship Eager to acquiesce to China’s rules for doing business, [some companies are unfortunately quick to resort to self-censorship](https://www.npr.org/2022/02/21/1081435029/china-hollywood-movies-censorship-erich-schwartzel?ref=goodoil.news). Chinese government censors [demanded a same-sex kiss be cut from the movie *Lightyear*](https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/lightyear-banned-countries-1.6487853?ref=goodoil.news), though Disney refused, while references to [same-sex relationship were scrubbed out of the latest *Fantastic Beasts* movie](https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61090995?ref=goodoil.news). China even demanded that the [2021 *Spiderman* movie erase images of the Statue of Liberty](https://nypost.com/2022/05/03/sony-rejects-chinas-censorship-request-in-spiderman/?ref=goodoil.news), and that the [flags of Taiwan and Japan be edited out of *Top Gun: Maverick*](https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/Return-of-Top-Gun-flag-patches-speaks-of-wider-U.S.-China-schism?ref=goodoil.news). The cancellation of the WorldPride event in Taiwan is just one of the signs that China’s authoritarian government is able and being allowed to decide who can participate in the international community, who can speak out and what can be represented in culture or shown on the internet. At a time when [rights, freedoms](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/3/2020-15th-straight-year-declining-global-freedom-report?ref=goodoil.news) and [democracy are in decline](https://freedomhouse.org/article/new-report-global-decline-democracy-has-accelerated?ref=goodoil.news) globally, liberal values and human rights — including those of the LGBTQ+ community — must be promoted and defended worldwide, regardless of what regimes like China demand. [Kuan-Wei Chen](https://theconversation.com/profiles/kuan-wei-chen-1061323?ref=goodoil.news), , *[McGill University](https://theconversation.com/institutions/mcgill-university-827?ref=goodoil.news)* *This article is republished from [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com/?ref=goodoil.news) under a Creative Commons license. Read the [original article](https://theconversation.com/cancellation-of-taiwan-pride-event-shows-chinas-influence-extends-far-beyond-its-borders-189210?ref=goodoil.news).* [If you enjoyed this article please share it using the share buttons at the top or bottom of the article.](#) [If you would like to access exclusive Member content or just remove the ads to make your reading experience more enjoyable click here to browse our Membership options.](https://thebfd.co.nz/subscription-plans/?ref=2)