Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim has embarked on a rare visit to Europe to attend a forum on democracy in Italy, accompanied by the island’s foreign minister. The presidential office confirmed the trip, stating that Hsiao was invited to the Ventotene Conference for Freedom and Democracy.

This visit is significant because high-ranking Taiwanese officials rarely travel to Europe, largely due to the potential for diplomatic repercussions from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory. The island’s foreign ministers do occasionally visit countries without formal ties to Taiwan, but a vice president's presence is a more sensitive matter.

Details of the trip were kept confidential until Hsiao's arrival to ensure her participation, according to Pina Picierno, vice president of the European Parliament. Picierno emphasized that intimidation should not dictate who can participate in democratic discussions, stating that freedom of debate is non-negotiable with autocracies.

The conference, taking place on the Italian island of Ventotene, aims to defend freedom and democracy. Italy, like most European nations, does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The exact nature of Hsiao's participation and further details are expected to be released upon her return to Taiwan.

China views Taiwan as a province and strongly opposes any actions that suggest the island is a separate state. This stance often leads Beijing to exert diplomatic pressure on countries that engage with Taiwanese officials.

Last November, Vice President Hsiao participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s annual summit, which was held at the European Parliament in Brussels. This prior engagement also highlighted Taiwan's efforts to build international support.

Other notable attendees at the Ventotene conference include Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and president of Ukraine’s Centre for Civil Liberties. The conference runs from Thursday to Saturday this week.

The visit underscores Taiwan's commitment to engaging in international forums focused on democratic values, even amidst significant geopolitical challenges and pressure from China.