Taiwan VP Hsiao Bi-khim Makes Rare Visit to European Parliament

• Taiwan's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim is visiting Belgium and meeting with lawmakers in the European Parliament
• The trip demonstrates Taiwan's growing outreach efforts in Europe

Taiwan's Vice President, Hsiao Bi-khim, made an unusual visit to Belgium on Friday (Nov 7), meeting with lawmakers at an event at the European Parliament, an important step in Taiwan's expanding outreach to Europe.

Taiwan has official diplomatic relations in Europe only with the Vatican but a number of European countries, like the UK, France, Lithuania, and Poland, have allowed visits from current or former Taiwanese officials despite objections from China.

Despite Taiwanese Foreign Ministers occasionally traveling to Europe, visits from senior officials, especially vice presidents, are rare due to Chinese diplomatic pressure.

Hsiao was in attendance at the European Parliament in Brussels at the time of the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

She expressed the idea that stability around the Taiwan Strait is a fundamental requirement for global peace and economic stability.

"Peace in the Taiwan Strait is important for global stability and economic continuity ... Do not underestimate the global importance of resisting a unilateral change to the status quo by force," Hsiao noted.

She noted the need to unite democracies: “Unity is needed among democracies in this age of fragmentation and increased authoritarianism, even if we are millions of miles apart; we are never alone," Hsiao told audience members who responded with a standing ovation.

While Hsiao did not speak to the full European Parliament—because the EU does not have formal relations with Taiwan—in response to this visit, the Chinese Mission to the EU said her visit "violates the one-China principle and weakens political trust between China and the EU."

Once again, the government of Taiwan reiterated its right to interact with the world, asserting that China has no jurisdiction over its diplomatic behavior. The visit featured Hsiao, Taiwan's former de facto ambassador to the U.S. and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung.

Hsiao also mentioned the affinity of Taiwan's experience of cyberattacks and undersea cable interference with hybrid threats experienced in Europe in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating that "while Europe stood up for freedom amid the flames, Taiwan stood up for democracy while under duress."

She also went on to mention Taiwan's contributions to humanitarian emergency assistance, and general compliance with and acceptance of international standards under long-standing membership in major international organizations.

The visit was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of legislators, from many various jurisdictions, that is working to advance coordinated international policy response and approaches to China. The meeting included approximately 50 legislators ranging from 24 countries.