In a move hailed as a diplomatic milestone for Taiwan and closely watched by governments across the globe, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim returned to Taipei on November 9, 2025, following a secretive yet groundbreaking trip to Brussels. There, she became the first Taiwanese vice president to deliver an address inside the European Parliament, marking a bold step forward in Taiwan-European Union relations and stirring heated reactions from Beijing.
Hsiao’s journey, which took place under a veil of secrecy due to anticipated security risks and diplomatic sensitivities, was anything but business as usual. According to Central News Agency (CNA), the visit was kept so classified that even Hsiao herself was only informed she would be traveling to Brussels shortly before departure; initially, she’d been told her speech would be delivered via pre-recorded video. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, who accompanied her, later explained that the heightened caution was a response to possible disruption from China, referencing past incidents including a reported plot by Chinese agents to intimidate Hsiao during a visit to the Czech Republic in March 2024.
The heart of the trip was Hsiao’s speech at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s (IPAC) annual summit, held within the European Parliament building on November 7. Addressing an audience of approximately 50 lawmakers from about two dozen countries, Hsiao called on the European Union to deepen security and trade ties with Taiwan and to stand firm in support of democracy as authoritarian pressures mount in the region. “Peace in the Taiwan Strait is essential to global stability and economic continuity, and international opposition against unilateral changes to the status quo by force cannot be overstated,” she told the gathering, as reported by The Associated Press.
Hsiao’s words resonated well beyond the chamber. Drawing parallels between Taiwan’s experiences with cyberattacks and undersea cable disruptions—allegedly by China—and the hybrid warfare tactics faced by European nations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she said, “Europe has defended freedom under fire, and Taiwan has built democracy under pressure.” She urged lawmakers from Germany, Spain, and other EU member states to collaborate with Taiwan on trusted supply chains and artificial intelligence, underscoring the island’s pivotal role in global semiconductor and electronics production.
The symbolism of the moment was not lost on observers. While Taiwan’s top officials have spoken in the parliaments of diplomatic allies before, this marked the first time a president or vice president had done so in a legislature of a country without formal ties to Taipei. Lin Chia-lung, Taiwan’s foreign minister, described the visit as a “historic step forward for Taiwan’s diplomacy,” declaring in a Facebook post, “Taiwan’s partnership with Europe is entering a new stage. Under this new model, Taiwan and Europe will continue to explore more possibilities for cooperation and exchanges.”
Back in Taipei, Hsiao echoed that optimism, telling reporters at the airport, “Taiwan is not alone. We have more and more like-minded friends around the world who are willing to walk with us. And we will continue, with confidence, pragmatism, and firm steps, to show the world Taiwan’s resolve, goodwill, and the power of our democracy.” She acknowledged the difficulties of Taiwan’s international situation but insisted that the island would not back down from its right to participate in the global community.
However, the breakthrough did not go unnoticed—or unchallenged—by Beijing. China’s mission to the European Union swiftly condemned the event, labeling IPAC an “anti-China organization” and accusing the European Parliament of violating the one-China principle. In a statement released on November 8, the Chinese mission asserted, “Despite China’s strong opposition and solemn representations, the European Parliament allowed leading ‘Taiwan independence’ figures such as Hsiao Bi-khim to enter its building to attend the summit and carry out ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities.” The statement went on to say, “This act seriously harms China’s core interests and violates the one-China principle, while seriously interfering in China-EU political mutual trust.”
Beijing’s response is consistent with its longstanding policy: China views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to “reunify” with the island. China’s officials refuse to engage with President Lai Ching-te and his administration, branding them as “separatists.” The Chinese government routinely warns that Taiwan’s independence is a “dead end,” and in recent years, Chinese military activity around the island has ramped up, with joint drills by warships and fighter jets occurring on a near-daily basis.
Yet, Taiwan’s leadership remains undeterred. President Lai Ching-te, for his part, has vowed to accelerate the construction of the “T-Dome” air defense system and to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2030, citing growing security concerns. Lai has also reiterated Taiwan’s commitment to being a “trusted partner in the international community,” standing firmly alongside Europe and other like-minded nations.
Former President Tsai Ing-wen, speaking from Berlin where she was scheduled to address a conference, described Hsiao’s Brussels trip as “of extraordinary significance for Taiwan.” She wrote on Facebook, “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.”
The significance of Hsiao’s visit was not lost on analysts either. Lin Tzu-li, a political science professor at Tunghai University, told CNA that Hsiao’s trip was “the most impressive performance of Taiwan’s parliamentary diplomacy in recent years.” While Hsiao spoke at the IPAC summit rather than before the full European Parliament, Lin emphasized that it remained a major diplomatic breakthrough and predicted, “It will not be the last time we see Taiwan’s senior officials speaking in parliaments or congresses in other democratic countries.”
Ben Bland, director of the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, noted in a recent analysis that despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations, the EU and Taiwan have much to gain from deeper ties—especially as U.S.-China rivalry intensifies. He warned that any conflict over Taiwan could have a far more devastating impact on Europe than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, given Taiwan’s importance in global technology supply chains.
Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, reflecting on the road to Brussels, credited his four visits to Europe since May 2024 with helping to strengthen mutual trust and lay the groundwork for Hsiao’s breakthrough. He also thanked President Lai for his trust and European lawmakers for their support in making the visit possible, despite the diplomatic turbulence it provoked.
As Taiwan’s international profile continues to rise, the events in Brussels may well signal a new era of engagement between the island and democratic partners worldwide. The message from Taipei is clear: Taiwan is ready to stand tall, even in the face of mounting pressure, and to forge ahead as a beacon of democracy and resilience on the world stage.
