Lusaka, May 10, 2026 — Organisers say China’s pressure on Zambia to restrict Taiwanese participation and curb criticism of Beijing led to the abrupt cancellation of RightsCon, the annual digital rights summit that had been scheduled for May 5–8 in Lusaka.
Access Now, which runs the conference, told reporters that Zambian authorities sought to impose conditions tied to Beijing’s “one China” policy before allowing the event to go ahead. Co‑Executive Director Alejandro Mayoral Banos said demands to exclude Taiwanese delegates and to moderate sessions critical of China represented a “clear red line” the organisation could not accept.
RightsCon director Nikki Gladstone said a Zambian official informed her that Chinese diplomats had been pressing Lusaka in the lead‑up to the summit. Organisers also said they received separate reports that China wanted China‑ or Taiwan‑related sessions toned down. Gladstone described the interference as “absolutely unprecedented.”
The cancellation came as more than 2,600 participants — including government officials, activists, business leaders and NGOs — were expected to attend. The programme had featured over 500 panels and workshops on topics such as artificial intelligence governance, censorship, internet freedom and transnational repression.
Access Now declined to comply with the requested conditions, saying the conference’s mission is to be inclusive and to protect marginalized voices. Several organisations, including Amnesty International Taiwan and the Open Culture Foundation, had already arranged for Taiwanese representatives to travel to Lusaka before the event was postponed.
Political analyst Yen Chen‑shen said the episode underscores Beijing’s growing efforts to extend enforcement of its “one China” principle beyond its borders. He noted Zambia’s long‑standing diplomatic and economic ties with China and said the country’s reliance on Beijing made it particularly vulnerable to influence.
The Open Culture Foundation warned that similar incidents may become more common as China exerts pressure on host countries of international forums where Taiwanese participants are expected.
The reporting on the cancellation drew on accounts from Focus Taiwan and a syndicated ANI feed. This article is a rewritten summary of those reports.
