European Parliament’s Vice President Pina Picierno says Hsiao Bi-khim’s go to ‘was saved secret till her arrival to guard her participation’ within the convention.
Printed On 11 Sep 2026
Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is making a uncommon go to to Europe, attending a discussion board on democracy in Italy alongside the island’s overseas minister, the presidential workplace stated.
Hsiao has been invited to attend the Ventotene Convention for Freedom and Democracy, and is travelling with Taiwanese Overseas Minister Lin Chia-lung, the presidential workplace stated in a quick assertion.
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Different particulars will probably be offered as soon as the 2 return to Taiwan from the Italian island of Ventotene, it added,
Whereas Taiwan’s overseas ministers sometimes go to Europe and different components of the world that haven’t any formal ties to the Chinese language-claimed island, it’s uncommon for an official as senior because the vice chairman to take action, given the chance of backlash from Beijing in opposition to the host nation.
Pina Picierno, vice chairman of the European Parliament, stated Hsiao’s deliberate participation “was saved secret till her arrival to guard her participation” within the convention.
“Nobody can decide who could be hosted on European soil, what voices could be heard, and what presences have to be hidden,” Picierno stated in a Fb put up. “It’s a easy and really clear message: intimidation can’t determine who participates in our democratic debate.”
“Freedom of debate shouldn’t be negotiable with autocracies. And Ventotene, greater than ever as we speak, should proceed to be the place the place freedom and democracy are defended with out worry,” she added.
The Ventotene convention takes place from Thursday till Saturday this week. Italy, like most international locations, has no formal diplomatic ties with Chinese language-claimed Taiwan.
Oleksandra Matviichuk, a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and president of Ukraine’s Centre for Civil Liberties, can be anticipated to take part within the convention.
China says Taiwan is one among its provinces, a view the democratically ruled island strongly rejects.
Final November, Hsiao spoke on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s annual summit, held within the European Parliament in Brussels.
