Commission backs out of conference after Taiwanese participation

Live updates

1. 21h ago

   European Commission withdraws from conference following Taiwan VP visit

   The European Commission has backed out of a conference after the participation of Taiwan's vice president. Vice President Hsiao visited Europe for a forum on democracy, including a freedom and democracy conference in Italy. China has condemned the visit as "despicable," while a European Parliament vice president praised Hsiao as a "role model" for women. The trip is viewed by some officials as a new diplomatic model that defies China's efforts to isolate Taiwan.

   Why it matters

   China maintains a strict policy of isolating Taiwan and pressures international bodies to limit its official participation. This visit represents a rare instance of Taiwan's second-highest official engaging with European democratic forums.

   What is confirmed

   • Taiwan's vice president visited Europe to attend a conference on democracy.
   • Vice President Hsiao attended a freedom and democracy conference in Italy.
   • China described the vice president's visit to Europe as "despicable".
   • The European Commission backed out of the conference after Taiwanese participation.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The trip creates a new diplomatic model according to an official.
   • A European Parliament vice president praised Hsiao as a "role model" for women.

   What to watch next

   • Official response from the European Commission regarding the reason for its withdrawal
   • Further diplomatic reactions from the Chinese government
   • Details on other European officials meeting with Vice President Hsiao during the trip
   Sources used for this update (17)

   1. reuters.com — Taiwan's vice president on rare Europe visit which China calls 'despicable'
   2. Bloomberg.com — Taiwan’s No. 2 Makes Rare Europe Trip, Defying China’s Isolation
   3. aljazeera.com — Taiwan vice president makes rare Europe visit for conference on democracy
   4. dw.com — China angered by Taiwan VP's visit to EU democracy forum
   5. euractiv.com — Commission backs out of conference after Taiwanese participation
   6. Taipei Times — Taiwan has right to make friends: VP
   7. focustaiwan.tw — INTERVIEW European Parliament vice president praises Hsiao as 'role model' for women
   8. Taiwan Today — VP Hsiao attends Italian freedom and democracy conference
   9. Taipei Times — Hsiao’s trip creates new diplomatic model: official
   10. en.protothema.gr — The Mazonakis phenomenon and the monstrous power of digital media, bang and boom go the gunshots on the works (and we don’t even have a fixer), Kasidiaris is “coming”
   11. jen.jiji.com — South Korean President hails Kazakhstan’s high potential in high-tech sectors
   12. jen.jiji.com — KazTransOil’s Batumi Terminal records highest monthly throughput since 2017
   confidence 90%