About 60 lawmakers from around the world took part in an impromptu meeting in the United States on Tuesday, expressing support for sanctions against China. Lawmakers believe that sanctions should be imposed on China because of its aggressive stance towards Taiwan.

Lawmakers met in Washington at the invitation of Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan’s unofficial ambassador to the US capital. Legislators in attendance included representatives from the Netherlands, UK, Australia, Canada, India and Japan.

The group is expected to sign a statement this week calling on their government to “strengthen their opposition to military or other coercive measures by the People’s Republic of China against Taiwan,” Reuters news agency reported.

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“We will work to ensure that our government makes it clear to China that military aggression against Taiwan will harm Beijing. Economic and political measures, including meaningful sanctions, should be considered to prevent a military escalation and to ensure that trade and other exchanges with Taiwan can continue unhindered,” the draft reads. According to lawmakers, it is not up to Beijing to determine the relationship between their country and Taiwan.

‘Don’t want to provoke bullies’

“We don’t want to provoke bullies, but we won’t bow to pressure either,” the lawmaker said. “We hope that the international community will support Taiwan for supporting Ukraine … that together we can prevent further aggression from China.”

China sees Taiwan as a rebellious province. After top American politician Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in early August, tensions have risen between Beijing and the island. For example, China holds large-scale military exercises around Taiwan.