Taiwan VP and Foreign Minister Attend EU Democracy Forum in Italy
Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung participated in the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy in Italy. China's government expressed strong discontent over their attendance, viewing it as a challenge to its claims over Taiwan.
Sources
China expressed strong discontent with Italy and the EU after the attendance of high-ranking Taiwanese officials, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, at the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy. The European Parliament's Vice President Pina Picierno defended the visit, stating it sent a "very important message" against Chinese interference, and underscoring that the visit was kept under wraps for safety reasons. Although Italy does not formally recognize Taiwan, it maintains a de facto embassy relationship, while the EU attempts to balance support for Taiwan with its ties to China.
Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is visiting Europe for the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy in Italy, accompanied by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, marking a rare occasion for such a high-ranking official to travel abroad due to potential backlash from China. The conference runs from Thursday to Saturday, and the participation was kept secret to safeguard Hsiao's involvement, emphasizing that intimidation should not dictate democratic discussions. Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament, supported this stance, proclaiming that "freedom of debate is not negotiable with autocracies."