Taiwan vice president makes rare Europe visit for conference on democracy

What the report says

Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is in Italy for a rare visit to Europe, where she is attending the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy, according to Taiwan’s presidential office as reported by Al Jazeera. The office said she is traveling with Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, and that more details would be shared after they return to Taiwan. The conference is being held on the island of Ventotene from Thursday through Saturday.

Al Jazeera reported that visits to Europe by senior Taiwanese officials are uncommon because most countries do not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. That makes trips by leaders such as the vice president especially sensitive, since host governments can face diplomatic pressure from Beijing. The report also noted that Taiwan’s foreign ministers have sometimes visited Europe and other regions, but a vice presidential visit is far more unusual.

Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament, said Hsiao’s participation was kept secret until she arrived in order to protect the visit. In a post cited by Al Jazeera, Picierno framed the appearance as a stand against intimidation and a defense of democratic debate. The event is also expected to include Ukrainian rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk. The visit comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions over Taiwan’s international space and Beijing’s efforts to limit official engagement with the island.