Taiwan's representative office in Thailand has publicly accused China's embassy of hijacking a long-running Chinese-community lecture in Bangkok, a sign of sharpening diplomatic rivalry inside overseas Chinese groups.

• Taiwan's office in Bangkok says China's ambassador used this month's "Sun Yat-sen Lecture" to push unification messaging.
• The lecture, held by Thailand's Chinese Association since 1993, had an unwritten rule that diplomats from both sides attend but do not speak.
• Taiwan named the association's chairman and two other figures, accusing them of siding with Beijing and misleading people about the plans.
• Taiwan says it will review all cooperation and funding tied to the association and may take further action.
• The office repeated that China's pressure tactics and refusal to rule out force are the real threat to regional peace.

Outlook: Taiwan looks set to pull back support from the group unless it distances itself from Beijing, with the dispute likely to spread to other overseas Chinese organizations in Southeast Asia.