TAIWAN has “more and more friends around the world” and will continue to demonstrate its determination to engage internationally, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said on Sunday after returning from what she described as a landmark diplomatic breakthrough in Europe.
Speaking at Taipei’s main airport following her trip, Hsiao acknowledged the island’s increasingly difficult international position but insisted that Taiwan “has never backed down” from asserting its right to participate in the global community.
“Taiwan is not alone. We have more and more like-minded friends around the world who are willing to walk with us,” she said. “And we will continue, with confidence, pragmatism, and firm steps, to show the world Taiwan's resolve, goodwill, and the power of our democracy.”
Hsiao’s visit to Brussels, where she addressed the annual summit of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China held in the European Parliament, marked one of the highest-level trips by a Taiwanese official to Europe in recent years. Such visits are rare due to the risk of diplomatic retaliation from Beijing against host nations.
China’s mission to the European Union denounced Hsiao’s visit, calling it a “serious interference in China’s internal affairs” that “severely undermined political mutual trust” between Beijing and the EU.
Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan’s government maintains that it is a sovereign entity entitled to engage with other countries freely, arguing that China has no right to dictate its international relations.
The visit came as China continues to refuse dialogue with President Lai Ching-te and his administration, branding him a “separatist”.
Former president Tsai Ing-wen, who is visiting Berlin to attend a conference this week, described Hsiao’s European visit as being of “extraordinary significance for Taiwan”. Writing on Facebook before her departure, Tsai said: “As President Lai Ching-te has stated, Taiwan stands as a trusted partner in the international community. We will steadfastly stand with Europe and other like-minded partners.” - November 9, 2025
