Story perspectives

Zambia Cancels RightsCon 2026 Amid Chinese Pressure Over Taiwan Participants

5/2/2026

32 3

Summary

Story summary

RightsCon 2026 was cancelled after Zambia withdrew the conference under pressure from Chinese officials.
Chinese diplomats objected to the participation of Taiwanese civil-society figures Jo-Fan Yu and E-Ling Chiu.
Zambia posted a vague Facebook notice saying the postponement was needed to align the agenda with national values and public interest.
Access Now said it will not exclude Taiwanese participants and pledged to hold RightsCon again in another location.

1 of 1

Story summary

RightsCon 2026 was cancelled after Zambia withdrew the conference under pressure from Chinese officials.
Chinese diplomats objected to the participation of Taiwanese civil-society figures Jo-Fan Yu and E-Ling Chiu.
Zambia posted a vague Facebook notice saying the postponement was needed to align the agenda with national values and public interest.
Access Now said it will not exclude Taiwanese participants and pledged to hold RightsCon again in another location.