Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim attends democracy conference in Italy, drawing diplomatic protest from China

Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung traveled to Italy to attend the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy. The visit is considered rare for a high-ranking official from Taiwan to visit nations that maintain formal diplomatic ties with China. China expressed diplomatic discontent with Italy and the European Union after the news of the visit broke. Beijing's Foreign Ministry stated that it opposes any official interaction between Taiwan and nations that have formal ties with China. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to reunify with the island. European Parliament Vice President Pina Picierno stated that the visit was kept secret until the officials arrived to protect their participation. Picierno noted that freedom of debate should not be decided by autocracies. The conference is scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

Sources

• DW.com
  China angered by Taiwan VP's visit to EU democracy forum
• Al Jazeera
  Taiwan vice president makes rare Europe visit for conference on democracy
• South China Morning Post
  Beijing lodges diplomatic protests over Taiwan official’s visit to Italy

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• Bloomberg.com
  Taiwan’s No. 2 Makes Rare Europe Trip, Defying China’s Isolation
• Reuters
  Taiwan's vice president on rare Europe visit which China calls 'despicable'